Question

Identify and write the names of the bones and joints present in this structure.

Answer 1

Hint: The sternum below was connected by hyaline cartilage to all the sternal parts of the thoracic ribs, except for the last five. Consequently, they are called true ribs. In fact, the sternal sections are supplied with two pairs of ribs (11th and 12th pair) and they are not attached to the sternum and are also known as floating ribs. The kidney is covered by floating ribs.

Complete answer:
The rib cage that forms the sternum (breastbone), the ribs and the thoracic vertebrae of the thorax protects the lungs and heart. A smooth bone in the front of the thorax is the sternum (or breastbone). It is positioned at the midline of the chest and has a 'T' shape. There are 12 pairs of ribs.

Each pair is tied to a single thoracic vertebra. The first seven pairs are considered actual ribs. Each of the real ribs is connected to the sternum by a piece of costal cartilage. The next five pairs do not attach directly to the sternum and lie lower than the real ribs, referred to as false ribs. The first three pairs attach indirectly to the sternum through a band of costal cartilage which fuses into the costal cartilage of the last true rib. At the top, the last two pairs of false ribs are present, known as floating ribs.

Note: As their anterior ends are not connected either to the sternum or to the cartilage of another rib, the last two pairs of ribs are called floating ribs. The floating ribs offer protection for the kidneys. Floating ribs may also be the tenth ribs in Japanese.