Anatomy of a Vertebrosternal Rib The true ribs, false ribs, and floating ribs all have a head, neck, and shaft. All the ribs of the thoracic cage articulate with vertebrae and each has a costal groove for passage of the intercostal vessels and nerve. Looking at the 24 ribs together you might tend to think that the ribs differ only in size. But they differ in shape too. For the sake of expediency let’s look at the particular bony landmarks on the seventh vertebrosternal rib (the 7th true ... The rib cage or thoracic cage is an endoskeletal enclosure in the thorax of most vertebrates that comprises the ribs, vertebral column and sternum, which protect the vital organs of the thoracic cavity, such as the heart, lungs and great vessels and support the shoulder girdle to form the core part of the axial skeleton. What Are Rib Bones The ribs are 12 pairs of curved, flat bones that form the thoracic cage or rib cage , the bony structure that shapes the thoracic cavity and protects various organs. Despite being relatively thin and light, these bones are highly resilient. Where Are the Ribs Located Ribs are located in the chest. They attach to the sternum or breastbone at the front and the thoracic spine in the back. The ribs can be felt and seen both at the front and back of the upper body. They are part ... Rib cage anatomy The rib cage is formed by the sternum, 12 pairs of ribs and their cartilages and 12 thoracic vertebrae and their respective intervertebral discs. The sternum is located anteriorly, the thoracic spine lies posteriorly, and the ribs - laterally. The ribs are found between the thoracic spine and sternum on each side, connecting both structures.
