None of the volumes listed would be normal. The internal intercostal muscles contribute to forced expiration and would affect ERV, TLC and VC. The external intercostal muscles contribute to inspiration and would affect the IRV, TLC and VC. Thus, none of the above volumes could be normal in a man who has non-functioning intercostal muscles.

When exercising, the muscles of inspiration include: external intercostals, scalene muscles, sternocleidomastoids.

When exercising, the muscles of expiration include: rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques, transversus abdominis, internal intercostals.

The main inspiratory muscle involved in quiet breathing is the diaphragm, which is a dome shaped sheet of skeletal muscle that is attached to the ribs, sternum, and vertebral column. External intercostals are also involved in quiet breathing, but if these muscles were impaired, quiet breathing would still continue because the diaphragm is the main muscle involved. Accessory muscles are not involved in quiet breathing, but may become involved during exercise. The abdominal wall muscles and internal muscles are both involved in expiration. 

The pharynx is located posterior to the nose and mouth and receives both inhaled air and masticated food before they are transferred to the trachea and esophagus, respectively. The pharynx is divided into three sections: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. Food and air first enter the nasopharynx and proceed to the oropharynx. The laryngopharynx is the last portion of the pharynx, and is superior to the larynx, which is the passageway for air. Food is not meant to pass through the laryngopharynx and will result in coughing if it does.

The pharynx is shared by the respiratory and digestive systems, and is separated into three sections. The nasopharynx is primarily used for respiration, while the laryngopharynx is primarily used for digestion; it is inferior to the epiglottis and connects to the esophagus. The oropharynx is shared by pathways for both respiration and digestion. 

The trachea and alveoli are exclusively used for respiration, while the esophagus and pyloric sphincter are exclusively used for digestion. Alveoli are the site of gas exchange in the lungs. The pyloric sphincter connects the stomach to the small intestine.

If the volume of the lungs increases, the air pressure inside the lungs decreases. Boyle's Law can be used to describe the process of human breathing. It states that for fixed mass, pressure and volume are inversely proportional.

If the volume increases, then pressure must decrease in order for these equations to hold true. This is responsible for the mechanics of inspiration. As the diaphragm contracts, the volume of the lungs increases and creates a negative pressure differential with the environmental atmosphere. This pressure differential draws air into the lungs through the nose and mouth.

The correct answer is a negative pressure change within the pleural space. When the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, they expand the chest cavity creating a higher volume of space within the pleural space. As volume within this space increased, the pressure responds by decreasing. This drop in pressure within the pleural space causes air from outside the body (high pressure) to low pressure (within the chest and the lungs).

Oxygen will attach to hemoglobin and be delivered to the body's tissues via gas exchange. In order to detach from hemoglobin, there needs to be a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen. The oxygen pressure in the lungs is much higher than in the body. This is why oxygen attaches to hemoglobin in the lungs. As the hemoglobin goes to the body's tissues, oxygen pressure decreases. This causes the oxygen to detach and be diffused into the tissues.

There are three main ways that carbon dioxide can be carried in the blood: it can be in solution independently, it can be turned into a bicarbonate ion via the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, or it can be attached to hemoglobin and other proteins. Carbon dioxide transport as bicarbonate ions is ten times more common than any other method.

In the lungs, the bicarbonate ion will undergo the reverse reaction experienced in the tissues, and dissociate into carbon dioxide and water. This allows the carbon dioxide gas to be exhaled.

There are a few factors which can decrease the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen: increased acidity, increased temperature, and carbon dioxide pressure. As carbon dioxide levels increase, hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen decreases. This means that it will release oxygen more readily in areas of high carbon dioxide levels, such as in the body's tissues. Since carbon dioxide is a product of cell metabolism, regions with high carbon dioxide content are likely very active in metabolism. This metabolism requires oxygen for the electron transport chain; thus, it is beneficial for hemoglobin to release oxygen in these regions in order to promote further metabolism.