7.4B: Thoracic Cage: Ribs

Anatomy and Physiology (Boundless) · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Learning Objectives
    • Describe the ribs of the thoracic cage

    Ribs are long, curved bones that form the rib cage surrounding the thorax. The thoracic cage can expand and contract to facilitate breathing in association with the diaphragm; it also protects the lungs, heart, and other organs of the thoracic cavity.

    Structure of a Rib

    This is a drawing of a rib cage that shows its connections to vertebrae. In particular, the first thoracic vertebra is labeled to display how a rib attached to it curves across and attaches to the sternum.

    Ribs: Lateral view of rib cage showing its connections to vertebrae. The first thoracic vertebra has a rib attached to it that curves across to the sternum.

    A rib consists of a head, neck, and shaft. The head of the rib is the most posterior region of the rib and articulates with the vertebral column. The flattened neck region provides an attachment point for numerous muscles located within the back. Finally, the shaft forms the majority of the length of the rib as it curves around the thoracic cavity forming the rib cage.

    Organization of the Ribs

    Humans have 24 ribs split into pairs that are named numerically passing inferiorly from the neck. The first five ribs are termed true ribs because they attach directly to the sternum through the costal cartilage.

    The next five ribs are termed false ribs because they attach to the sternum indirectly through the costal cartilage.

    Finally, the last two ribs are termed floating ribs because they do not attach to the sternum at all.

    Rib 1 is the shortest and most curved of the ribs. Descending from rib 1, the ribs increase in size up until rib 7 before decreasing in length again.

    Key Points

    • Ribs are long, curved bones that form the rib cage surrounding the thorax.
    • Articulating from the spine, the majority attach to the sternum either directly or indirectly.
    • Humans have 24 ribs split into pairs. Pairs 1–5 attach directly to the sternum through the costal cartilage, 6–10 attach indirectly though the costal cartilage, and 11–12 are termed floating ribs and do not attach.

    Key Terms

    • rib: A long, curved bone that forms the rib cage surrounding the thorax.
    • costal: Pertaining to a rib.

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    This page titled 7.4B: Thoracic Cage: Ribs was last modified on Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:13:24 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Boundless (now LumenLearning).