1. Respiration has two stages - inspiration and expiration. Inspiration is active and involves contracting muscles like the diaphragm and external intercostals, while expiration is usually passive upon relaxation of these muscles. 2. The diaphragm is the chief muscle of respiration. When it contracts, its dome shape is lowered, increasing the vertical chest diameter and decreasing intrathoracic pressure, drawing in air. 3. The external intercostals elevate the ribs during inspiration, increasing the chest's transverse and anteroposterior diameters. This produces both a "bucket-handle" and "pump-handle" motion of the ribs and sternum, respectively.