The external intercostal muscles in humans show marked regional differences in respiratory effect, and this implies that their action on the lung during breathing is primarily determined by the spatial distribution of neural drive among them. To assess this distribution, monopolar electrodes were implanted under ultrasound guidance in different muscle areas in six healthy individuals and electromyographic recordings were made during resting breathing. The muscles in the dorsal portion of the third and fifth interspace showed phasic inspiratory activity with each breath in every subject. However, the muscle in the ventral portion of the third interspace showed inspiratory activity in only three subjects, and the muscle in the dorsal portion of the seventh interspace was almost invariably silent. Also, activity in the ventral portion of the third interspace, when present, and activity in the dorsal portion of the fifth interspace were delayed relative to the onset of activity in the dorsal portion of the third interspace. In addition, the discharge frequency of the motor units identified in the dorsal portion of the third interspace averaged (mean ±s.e.m.) 11.9 ± 0.3 Hz and was significantly greater than the discharge frequency of the motor units in both the ventral portion of the third interspace (6.0 ± 0.5 Hz) and the dorsal portion of the fifth interspace (6.7 ± 0.4 Hz). The muscle in the dorsal portion of the third interspace started firing simultaneously with the parasternal intercostal in the same interspace, and the discharge frequency of its motor units was even significantly greater (11.4 ± 0.3 vs. 8.9 ± 0.2 Hz). These observations indicate that the distribution of neural inspiratory drive to the external intercostals in humans takes place along dorsoventral and rostrocaudal gradients and mirrors the spatial distribution of inspiratory mechanical advantage.