Ribs (Costae)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
Twenty-four ribs (12 pairs) forming the thoracic cage that shields the heart and lungs: ribs 1–7 attach to the sternum by their own cartilages, 8–10 by a shared cartilage, and 11–12 float.
Clinical notes
Rib fractures are common after chest trauma; fractures in multiple segments of the same ribs can create a flail chest that disrupts breathing mechanics.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Ribs?
Twenty-four ribs (12 pairs) forming the thoracic cage that shields the heart and lungs: ribs 1–7 attach to the sternum by their own cartilages, 8–10 by a shared cartilage, and 11–12 float.
Why is the Ribs clinically important?
Rib fractures are common after chest trauma; fractures in multiple segments of the same ribs can create a flail chest that disrupts breathing mechanics.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details