A 32-year-old man arrives in the ER complaining of acute heart palpitations. His blood pressure is 100/70 mmHg, and his heart rate is 160 beats per minute. To alleviate these symptoms, the doctor tells the patient to do the "Valsalva technique." Which of the following structures is most crucial in completing the Valsalva technique, as seen in the pelvic CT scan below?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The Valsalva technique causes an increase in vagal tone and can be utilized to treat paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The most critical muscle in creating the increased intraabdominal and intrathoracic pressure of the Valsalva maneuver is the rectus abdominis.

A 32-Year-Old Man Arrives in the ER Complaining of Acute