Final answer:
None of these muscles contract significantly during quiet expiration, as it is a passive process where the diaphragm and external intercostals relax, and the lung elasticity allows air to be expelled.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns which muscles contract during quiet expiration. During quiet expiration, typically none of these muscles contract significantly as exhalation is mostly a passive process. The diaphragm and the external intercostal muscles, which are involved in inspiration, relax during this phase, allowing the ribcage and lungs to return to their resting states due to their elastic properties, thus expelling the air out of the lungs. In contrast, during forced expiration, such as during vigorous exercise or blowing out candles, accessory muscles like the abdominal wall muscles and internal intercostal muscles can contract to actively push air out. However, for quiet expiration, the answer is that none of these muscles significantly contract.