Download Anterior View Posterior View Lateral View R. Lateral View RIBCAGE

RIBCAGE The human ribcage is part of the
axial skeleton and consists of
the 12 pairs of rib bones that
project anteriorly from their
corresponding thoracic vertebrae
to which they attach.
Anterior View At the thoracic vertebrae, the
heads of the rib bones articulate
with the costal demi-facets of
two adjacent vertebrae – one
above and one below. The 1st
through 7th ribs are referred to
as true ribs or vertebrosternal
ribs. They are attached via the
costal cartilage to the sternum
at the anterior and to the costal
processes of the thoracic
vertebrae at the posterior. The
8th through 10th ribs are
referred to as false ribs as they
have no direct attachment to the
sternum, but still attach to the
costal cartilage. The 11th and
12th ribs are referred to as
floating ribs because they attach
to the thoracic vertebrae only,
with no anterior attachment to
the costal cartilage.
Posterior View The costal cartilage affords a
limited amount of movement in the
ribs as they are expanded by the
intercostal muscles during
respiration. Lateral View R. Lateral View