What are the ribs called?
It is called the ribs (costae). Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as twelve pairs of flat, curved bones that form the walls of the chest.
What it is
- Twelve pairs of flat, curved bones that form the walls of the chest.
- The upper seven pairs are 'true' ribs, joined directly to the sternum by costal cartilage.
- The lower five pairs are 'false' ribs; the last two pairs are 'floating' ribs, unattached in front.
Where it is
- Extending from the thoracic vertebrae in the back to the sternum in front.
- Enclose the heart and lungs.
- Rise and fall with each breath.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
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