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Showing results for intercostal. Search instead for intercostal muscle.

intercostal

American  
[in-ter-kos-tl, -kaw-stl] / ˌɪn tərˈkɒs tl, -ˈkɔ stl /

adjective

  1. pertaining to muscles, parts, or intervals between the ribs.

  2. situated between the ribs.

  3. Shipbuilding. noting a structural member situated between or divided by continuous members, as frames or keelsons.


noun

  1. an intercostal muscle, member, or space.

intercostal British  
/ ˌɪntəˈkɒstəl /

adjective

  1. anatomy between the ribs

    intercostal muscles

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of intercostal

From the New Latin word intercostālis, dating back to 1590–1600. See inter-, costal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He later confirmed he had torn an intercostal muscle.

From BBC Sep. 1, 2025

After feeling his side cramp up in the Dodgers’ decisive Game 5 win over the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, doctors determined he had injured his intercostal muscle.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 3, 2025

Third baseman Austin Riley is day to day with a left intercostal strain, and catcher Sean Murphy remains on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury after he got hurt on opening day.

From Seattle Times May 26, 2024

In a field hospital in Al Mamoura, Dr. Mohamed Karrar improvised an intercostal drain system using a sterilized soda bottle to pump the blood from a gunshot victim’s punctured lung.

From New York Times Apr. 30, 2023

The foci of pain in intercostal neuralgia are always found in one or more of the points, already enumerated, at which sensory nerves become superficial.

From Neuralgia and the Diseases that Resemble it by Anstie, Francis E.

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