How Many Bones are There in The Rib Cage

Introduction

Vital organs including the heart, lungs, and major arteries are protected by the rib cage, an enclosure made up of the ribs, spinal column, and sternum in the thorax of most vertebrates. Since the rib cage is a component of the axial skeleton, it is made up of all the axial skeleton's bones other than the skull. The rib cage does not include any of the appendicular skeleton's bones. The rib cage serves an important ventilatory role in the respiratory system by holding the breathing muscles that are necessary for forceful expiration and active inhalation. Lets learn about the types and number of rib cage bones in a human body.

Number of Bones Present in A Rib Cage

• There are 24 bones in the rib cage, divided into 12 pairs, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and a single flat sternum making up the body. As a result, there are 37 bones that make up the thoracic cage. The cartilages that connect these bones to one another.

• The sternum, thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and a muscular separator known as the diaphragm constitute the ventral, dorsal, lateral, and lower sides of the rib cage, respectively. The thoracic cavity and the abdominal cavity are divided by the diaphragm.

• Out of the 12 pairs of ribs in the rib cage, the first 7 pairs are known as real ribs because they connect directly to the sternum with the aid of hyaline cartilage. The eighth, ninth, and tenth pair are not connected directly to the sternum.

• Hyaline cartilage connects the eighth, ninth, and tenth pairs of ribs to the seventh, giving them the name "false ribs." The last two pairs of ribs are known as floating ribs because they are solely attached to the spinal column.

• The long, flat sternum, often known as the breast bone, is located on the ventral side of the thoracic chamber. It is between 15 and 17 centimetres in length. There are three parts to it: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process.

• A thin, flat bone, each rib connects dorsally to the vertebral column and ventrally to the sternum with the help of hyaline cartilage.

Functions of Rib Cage

• The thoracic cavity, which houses the lungs, is enclosed by it. When the intercostal muscles flex, the rib cage is lifted up and out, causing the muscular diaphragm at the bottom of the thoracic cavity to contract and flatten.

• The thoracic cavity expands in three directions: vertical, anteroposterior, and transverse.

• In order to accommodate the downward pressure that the diaphragm contraction applies to the abdominal viscera, the vertical plane is stretched by the diaphragm contracting and the abdominal muscles relaxing. Instead of only the domes flattening, a larger extension can be accomplished by the diaphragm when slide below.

• They guard the heart, lungs, a portion of the liver, the spleen, and other crucial organs that are located in the chest.

• They keep the chest open to allow the lungs to expand and collapse naturally during breathing.

Difference Between Ribs of Men and Women

There is no empirical support for the widespread belief that men have fewer ribs than women, which was probably inspired by the biblical account of Adam and Eve.

Cervical ribs are more prevalent in females than in males, despite the fact that they are uncommon in the general population, according to experts.

Conclusion

The ribs serve important roles in the body by aiding respiration and safeguarding internal organs.The majority of people have 24 ribs at birth, 12 on each side of the body. According to popular belief, male and females have different numbers of rib bones but it is not true and also not everyone is born with the usual 24 ribs. Having an unusually high number of ribs often has no negative effects on health.