Bones of the Thorax

Question 1

RIB

Answer 1

the bone forming the lateral thoracic wall

12 pairs; several types are described: typical or “true” ribs, “false” ribs, “floating” ribs; all three types of ribs have many features in common: head, neck, tubercle, angle, body, costal groove

Question 2

Head (rib)

Answer 2

posteromedial end of the rib

it articulates with demifacets of two adjacent vertebral bodies

Question 3

Neck (rib)

Answer 3

the constricted region lateral to the head of the rib

the neck of the rib is located between the head and the tubercle

Question 4

Tubercle (rib)

Answer 4

a projection located posteroinferior and lateral to the neck of the rib

it articulates with the transverse process of a vertebra

Question 5

Body (Rib)

Answer 5

the shaft of the rib

the body is the longest part of a typical rib

Question 6

Angle (Rib)

Answer 6

the marked angulation of the body located just lateral to the tubercle

the angle of the rib is its most posterior part

Question 7

Costal Groove (rib)

Answer 7

the groove on the inner surface of the inferior border of the body of the rib

it accommodates the intercostal neurovascular bundle; the costal groove provides a protective function for the intercostal neurovascular bundle,

Question 8

RIBS 1-7

Answer 8

“true” ribs - those which attach directly to the sternum

true ribs actually attach to the sternum by means of a costal cartilage and a true synovial joint

Question 9

RIB 1

Answer 9

the most cephalic rib

it is the broadest, shortest and widest of the ribs; the scalene tubercle marks its superior surface and is an elevation between grooves for the subclavian vein & artery; the scalene tubercle is the attachment site of the scalenus anterior m.

Question 10

RIB 2

Answer 10

the rib attached to the 1st and 2nd thoracic vertebrae

it articulates via a costal cartilage with the sternum at the level of the sternal angle; its superior surface is roughened by the attachments of the scalene mm.

Question 11

RIB 8-10

Answer 11

“false” ribs

they articulate via costal cartilages with the costal cartilage of rib 7

Question 12

RIB 11-12

Answer 12

“floating” ribs

the anterior ends of these ribs do not articulate with the sternum or the costal cartilage of the rib above; their costal cartilages are short and end in the muscle of the posterolateral abdominal wall

Question 13

STERNUM

Answer 13

the broad flat bone forming the anterior thoracic wall

it is formed by three parts: manubrium, body, xiphoid process

Question 14

Manubrium (Sternum)

Answer 14

the superior part of the sternum

manubrium means “handle”, as in the handle of a sword

Question 15

Jugular (Suprasternal) Notch (Sternum)

Answer 15

a notch on the superior border of the manubrium

it is located between the clavicular notches which articulate with the sternal ends of the clavicles

Question 16

Clavicular Notch (Sternum)

Answer 16

a notch on the superolateral border of the manubrium

it articulates with the sternal end of the clavicle

Question 17

Sternal Angle (Sternum)

Answer 17

the junction of the manubrium and body of the sternum

it is an anterior projection located at the level of the costal cartilage of rib 2; an important landmark for internal thoracic anatomy

Question 18

Body (Sternum)

Answer 18

the middle part of the sternum

it articulates with the manubrium superiorly and the xiphoid process inferiorly; laterally it articulates with the costal cartilages of ribs 2-7

Question 19

Xiphoid Process (Sternum)

Answer 19

The inferior part of the sternum

Xiphoid means “Sword shaped”; it is variable in size, shape & ossification; it articulates with the body of the sternum superiorly.