The Rib Cage
April 13th 2006 00:19
This diagram of the rib cage is missing a rib, can you tell me which one?
The rib cage, (otherwise known as the thoracic cage), protects our vital organs within the thorax - the chest. It consists of the thoracic vertebrae, the ribs and their costal cartilages, and the sternum, or breastbone.
We have 12 pairs of ribs, and there are two types. The top seven pairs are the true ribs and attach ‘directly’ to the sternum. [Well, almost directly - the costal cartilage is positioned in between the ribs and the sternum.] The bottom 5 pairs are called false ribs. These ribs do not attach ‘directly’ to the sternum. The pairs of ribs numbered 8 to 10 are attached to the sternum by a common cartilage (of rib number 7). Ribs 11 and 12 are called floating ribs, as they do not attach to the sternum at all; they just come out from the spinal cord at the back of the body but never form a cage by closing in and joining onto the sternum at the front.
The costal cartilage that is in our rib cage flexes as we breathe, and functions to keep our breathing system as elastic as possible. If this cartilage was to be replaced by bone, it would be very difficult for out ribs to move to provide for our breathing, because bones are a rigid material, and don’t give much when a pressure is applied.
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Comment by Stanley
Comment by RachDegab
Bye Everybody!
Comment by Anonymous
If so, where would the blade need to be inserted?
Comment by Narrrrdine
Comment by sam sall
Speech Starter
Health Matters
marilyn manson who ?!
any how we all have th same number of bones and we need the all of our of ribs to protect our vital organs . thank you for stopping by and for your comment
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous