Are ribs and rib cage the same thing?

rib cage, in vertebrate anatomy, basketlike skeletal structure that forms the chest, or thorax, and is made up of the ribs and their corresponding attachments to the sternum (breastbone) and the vertebral column.

What is a rib cage?

The rib cage consists of 24 ribs (2 sets of 12), which are attached to a long, flat bone in the centre of the chest called the sternum. The rib cage help protects the organs in the chest, such as the heart and lungs, from damage.

How many ribs are in the rib cage?

Your rib cage consists of 12 pairs of curved ribs that are evenly matched on both sides. Men and women have the same number of ribs. It’s a myth that men have one less pair of ribs than women. Your ribs serve a vital purpose in protecting the organs in your chest cavity.

What are the ribs called?

The ribs are classified into three groups based on their relationship to the sternum. Ribs 1–7 are classified as true ribs (vertebrosternal ribs). The costal cartilage from each of these ribs attaches directly to the sternum. Ribs 8–12 are called false ribs (vertebrochondral ribs).

What are the 4 different places where ribs attach?

Anteriorly, each rib ends in a costal cartilage. True ribs (1–7) attach directly to the sternum via their costal cartilage. The false ribs (8–12) either attach to the sternum indirectly or not at all. Ribs 8–10 have their costal cartilages attached to the cartilage of the next higher rib.

Where is the false rib?

False rib: One of the last five pairs of ribs. A rib is said to be false if it does not attach to the sternum (the breastbone). The upper three false ribs connect to the costal cartilages of the ribs just above them.

What are the 12 ribs?

In humans there are normally 12 pairs of ribs. The first seven pairs are attached directly to the sternum by costal cartilages and are called true ribs. The 8th, 9th, and 10th pairs—false ribs—do not join the sternum directly but are connected to the 7th rib by cartilage.