Recession is a clinical sign of respiratory distress which occurs as increasingly negative intrathoracic pressures cause indrawing of part of the chest.

What causes Subcostal recessions?

These movements are known as intercostal retractions, also called intercostal recession. Intercostal retractions indicate that something is blocking or narrowing your airway. Asthma, pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases can all cause a blockage.

What is a Subcostal recession?

Subcostal retractions: When your belly pulls in beneath your rib cage. Substernal retractions: If your belly pulls beneath your breastbone. Suprasternal retractions: When the skin in the middle of your neck sucks in. It's also called a tracheal tug.