Final answer:
The statement is false because at the end of inhalation, the respiratory muscles are still contracted before they begin to relax for exhalation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that in a normal person at rest, the part of the respiratory cycle in which no air is flowing through the airways and the respiratory muscles are relaxed is at the end of inhalation/inspiration, prior to exhalation/expiration, is false.
During inhalation (also known as inspiration), the diaphragm and the external intercostal muscles contract, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and decreasing the pressure inside the lungs compared to atmospheric pressure, thus allowing air to flow into the lungs. At the end of inhalation, just before exhalation begins, there is a brief moment where the muscles are still contracted before they begin to relax for the exhalation process. During exhalation (or expiration), the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, which allows the thoracic cavity to decrease in volume, causing the air pressure inside the lungs to increase and air to be expelled without the use of muscle effort in healthy individuals at rest.