Dr.

Ogedengbe
O.O
Ribs, Cartilages
and Thoracic
Vertebra
Introduction:
• The “Thorax/chest” is the part of the body between the neck and
abdomen
• It has a wall called musculoskeletal wall of the thorax
• the wall has a bony framework which is referred to as the thoracic
cage
• Inside the thoracic wall is a cavity called the thoracic cavity
The thoracic cage
• is an irregularly shaped cylinder with 2 openings/ apertures;
 superior thoracic aperture : a narrow opening which is located
superiorly
 inferior thoracic aperture: a relatively large opening which is located
inferiorly
 note
• The superior thoracic aperture is open, allowing continuity with the
neck, while the inferior thoracic aperture is closed by the diaphragm
Thoracic cavity
 subdivided into 3 major compartments;
 a median partition called the mediastinum
 and the laterally placed pleurae and lungs (right and left)

Structure of the Thoracic Wall

The thoracic wall is formed;
• anteriorly: sternum and costal cartilages
• Posteriorly: thoracic part of the vertebral column
• laterally: ribs and intercostal spaces
• Superiorly: suprapleural membrane
• inferiorly: diaphragm
 note
• the diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal
cavity
Skeleton of Thoracic Wall (thoracic cage)
This includes;
• 12 thoracic vertebrae
• intervertebral (IV) discs
• 12 pairs of ribs and their costal cartilages
• sternum
 Costal cartilages form the anterior continuation of the ribs,
providing a flexible attachment at their articulation with the
sternum
 Ribs and their cartilages are separated by intercostal spaces
 Intercostal spaces are occupied by;
 intercostal muscles
 vessels
 nerves
Ribs and Costal Cartilages
A) Classification based on articulation
There are 3 categories of ribs:
True (vertebrocostal) ribs…………..1st-7th ribs
• False (vertebrochondral) ribs……….. 8th, 9th, and usually 10th ribs
• Floating (vertebral, free) ribs…... 11th, 12th, and sometimes 10th ribs

 True (vertebrocostal) ribs (1st-7th ribs)

• They attach directly to the sternum through their own costal cartilages
 False (vertebrochondral) ribs (8th, 9th, and usually 10th ribs)
• Their cartilages are connected to the cartilage of the rib above them;
thus their connection with the sternum is indirect
 Floating (vertebral, free) ribs (11th, 12th, and sometimes 10th ribs)
• Their cartilages are rudimentary
• they do not connect even indirectly with the sternum
• instead they end in the posterior abdominal musculature
B) Classification based on structure
The true, false and floating ribs can also be classified into;
 Typical (similar) ribs
 Atypical (dissimilar) ribs

Typical ribs:
 These include the 3rd-9th ribs
• A typical rib consists of …………..a curved shaft (body) with 2 ends;
 anterior end
 posterior end
• The anterior end is continuous with its costal cartilage
• The posterior end articulates with the vertebral column and is
characterized by;
 a head
 Neck
 tubercle
Posterior end of a typical rib
head
• Is expanded (wedge shape)
• two articular surfaces (superior and inferior) separated by a crest
• The smaller superior surface articulates with the inferior costal facet on the
body of the vertebra above, whereas the larger inferior facet articulates with
the superior costal facet of its own vertebra
neck
• separates the head from the tubercle
tubercle
• projects posteriorly from the junction of the neck with the shaft
• consists of 2 regions
 articular part (smooth)
 nonarticular part (rough)
• articular part :articulates with the corresponding transverse process of the
vertebra
• Nonarticular part: is roughened by attachment of costotransverse ligament
Shaft:
• generally thin and flat with internal and external surfaces
• it bends anterolaterally at a point called the costal angle
• The inferior margin of the internal surface is marked by a distinct costal
groove

Atypical ribs
1st, 2nd, and 10th-12th are dissimilar
1st rib
• is the broadest, shortest, and most sharply curved of the seven true ribs
• has a single facet on its head for articulation with the T1 vertebra only
• has two grooves crossing its superior surface for the subclavian vessels
• the grooves are separated by a scalene tubercle and ridge
2nd rib
• is thinner, less curved, and much longer than the 1st rib
• it has two facets on its head for articulation with the bodies of the T1 and
T2 vertebrae
• The 10th-12th ribs, like the 1st rib, have only one facet on their
heads
• The 11th and 12th ribs are short and have no necks or tubercles

Thoracic Vertebrae
• most thoracic vertebrae are typical
• They are 12 in numbers
• It consists of :
• a pair of pedicles
• a pair of laminae
• Verterbral body and foramen
• 7 processes:
2 superior articular processes
2 inferior articular processes
2 transverse processes
1 spinous process
 Characteristic features of thoracic vertebrae include:
• Bilateral costal facets (demifacets) on the vertebral bodies, usually
occurring in inferior and superior pairs, for articulation with the
heads of ribs
• Costal facets on the transverse processes for articulation with the
tubercles of ribs, except for the inferior two or three thoracic
vertebrae
• Long, inferiorly slanting spinous processes
 note
• the superior costal facets on the body of vertebra TI are complete and
articulate with a single facet on the head of its own rib--------------in
other words, the head of rib I does not articulate with vertebra CVII
• similarly, vertebra TX (and often TIX) articulates only with its own
ribs and therefore lacks inferior demifacets on the body
• vertebrae TXI and TXII articulate only with the heads of their own
ribs------------------they lack transverse costal facets and have only a
single complete facet on each side of their bodies
intervertebral disc
• located between each pair of vertebral bodies is a cushion-like
structure known as the intervertebral disc
function
• to absorb the stress and shock that is placed on the vertebral column
when a person walks, runs, moves, bends, or twists
• prevent the vertebral bodies from grinding against each other
Parts
made up of two parts:
• annulus fibrosus (which means, roughly, the fibrous ring)
• nucleus pulposus (which means the pulpy interior)