Final answer:
True, the internal intercostals do not need to contract during exhalation at rest, as it is a passive process facilitated by the lungs' natural recoil.
Step-by-step explanation:
During exhalation at rest, the contraction of the internal intercostal muscles is not necessary. The internal intercostal muscles are located just under the external intercostal muscles and are used for forced expiration. At rest, exhaling is a passive process that occurs mainly due to the elasticity of the lungs. The diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax, causing the thorax and lungs to recoil, which increases the air pressure within the lungs and forces air out.
True, contraction of the internal intercostals is not necessary during exhalation at rest. During quiet breathing, exhalation is typically a passive process attributed to the elasticity of the lungs. As the diaphragm and external intercostals relax, the volume of the thorax decreases, leading to an increase in the air pressure within the lungs compared to the atmosphere, resulting in air being expelled from the lungs. When exhalation is forced, as in during physical exertion, the internal intercostals may contract to aid in expelling air more vigorously. However, during a relaxed state, such as at rest, the process does not require the internal intercostals to contract.