The ribs give the rib cage its typical shape and are normally present in pairs in humans. The number of pairs of ribs here corresponds to the number of vertebrae in the thoracic spine.
What are ribs?
According to the definition, ribs are paired, curved bones that are rod-shaped and originate dorsally, that is, at the back of the thoracic vertebrae. Together with the thoracic vertebrae and the sternum (the breastbone), the ribs form the thorax, or bony chest.
Anatomy and structure
According to the number of thoracic vertebrae, there are an equal number of pairs of ribs, thus the human skeleton has 12 pairs of ribs. Structured, each rib is made up of the os costale, the rib bone, which is joined by a section of cartilage. The rib cartilage is located in the anterior thoracic region and is called the cartilago costalis. Between each two consecutive ribs is an intercostal space (ICR), also known as the intercostal space. This is where the intercostal muscles are found, which act as respiratory support muscles. The cartilage of ribs six through ten is fused together in most humans and is known as the articulationes interchondrales, or articular junction of the rib cartilages. Each rib has a rib head, the caput costae, with which it forms an articulated connection to the respective thoracic vertebra. This is followed by the rib neck, collum costae, and rib body, corpus costae. In humans, the first seven pairs of ribs are directly connected to the sternum, the breastbone, via the costal cartilage and are therefore referred to as true ribs, costae verae. Because pairs 8, 9, and 10 of ribs connect to each other and to the sternum via the cartilaginous costal arch, these are called false ribs, costae spuriae. The vestigial ribs, costae fluctuantes, terminate in the free abdominal cavity and are often called “meat ribs.”
Functions and tasks
Functionally, the ribs, together with the thoracic vertebrae and sternum, form the bony rib cage. In doing so, they protect the internal organs of the heart and lungs. Via the articulated connections to the thoracic vertebrae and the intercostal musculature located in the intercostal spaces, the ribs raise and lower, thus enabling breathing. The amount of play that is possible between inhalation and exhalation is usually around 2 cm.
Diseases
Chest pain is often equated with lung or heart problems. Often, findings in the rib area can also be detected. A rib contusion resulting from blunt trauma can cause significant breathing and mobility problems. Rib fractures are also common diagnoses as a result of falls or accidents. A complication of rib fractures is that co-injuries to the lungs, heart and aorta can occur. Rib fractures and rib contusions often present with pain when breathing and moving. Especially rib injuries in the anterior thoracic area restrict breathing more than in the area close to the spine. where the back muscles take over some functions as supporting and holding muscles. During colds or movement restrictions due to immobility, problems often occur in the intercostal musculature. This can lead to restricted movement of the rib cage and thus reduced depth of breathing due to tension or inflammation and adhesions. Intercostal neuralgia, pain in the area of the intercostal nerves, is also a known complaint. In this case, a belt-shaped pain in the area of the affected nerves extends along the rib cage. Since these often intensify with deep breathing or coughing, the complaints are often mistaken for a heart attack and can trigger panic attacks. Pleurisy, which occurs either as a result of a previous illness or as a result of an infection, often causes painful breathing difficulties that are accompanied by fever. In some cases, creaking noises may also occur during breathing. Pleurisy can be differentiated from pneumonia by differential diagnostic measures. In ankylosing spondylitis, one of the best-known symptoms is ossification of the rib joints and associated stiffening of the rib cage. This leads to restricted breathing movement and pain when breathing. Blockages of the rib joints also often lead to pain, which increases when breathing.If these blockages occur in connection with blockages of the thoracic spine, a vicious circle of pain and restricted movement can often be observed here.
Typical and common conditions
- Rib fracture
- Pleurisy
- Rib bruise
- Rib pain
