Sternum/Ribs Flashcards by Courtney Zinck

Jugular notch (suprasternal notch)

A
Location: Superior border of the manubrium, between the clavicular notches.

Function: Serves as a surface landmark; palpable depression used clinically to identify central thoracic structures.

Articulations: None directly, but lies between the clavicular notches which articulate with the clavicles.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Clavicular notch

B
Location: Lateral to the jugular notch on the superior aspect of the manubrium.

Function: Site of articulation for the clavicles; helps form the sternoclavicular joint.

Articulations: Articulates with the sternal (medial) ends of both clavicles.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Manubrium sterni

C
Location: Superior part of the sternum.

Function: Supports articulation with clavicles and upper ribs; protects thoracic organs.

Articulations:

Clavicles (at clavicular notches)

First ribs (via costal cartilage)

Second ribs (at manubriosternal joint)

Body of sternum (at sternal angle)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the first costal cartilage

D
Location: On the lateral border of the manubrium.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the first rib.

Articulations: Forms a synchondrosis (cartilaginous joint) with the first costal cartilage.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Sternal angle

E
Location: Junction between the manubrium and the body of the sternum.

Function: Landmark for rib counting; aligns with second rib and T4–T5 intervertebral disc.

Articulations:

Manubrium

Body of sternum

Second costal cartilage

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Body

F
Location: Central and longest portion of the sternum, inferior to the manubrium.

Function: Provides attachment points for costal cartilages of ribs 2–7.

Articulations:

Manubrium (superiorly)

Xiphoid process (inferiorly)

Costal cartilages of ribs 2–7 (laterally)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Xiphisternal angle

G
Location: Junction of the body and the xiphoid process.

Function: Anatomical landmark for the inferior border of the thoracic cavity.

Articulations: Body of sternum and xiphoid process.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Xiphoid process

H
Location: Inferior tip of the sternum.

Function: Site of muscle attachment (e.g., diaphragm, rectus abdominis); important landmark for CPR.

Articulations: Xiphisternal joint with the body of the sternum.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the seventh costal cartilage

I
Location: On the inferior end of the body, near the xiphisternal junction.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 7th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 7th rib.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the sixth costal cartilage

J
Location: Lateral margin of the lower third of the body.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 6th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 6th rib.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the fifth costal cartilage

K
Location: Lateral margin of the body, above the 6th facet.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 5th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 5th rib.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the fourth costal cartilage

L
Location: Midsection of the body of sternum.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 4th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 4th rib.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the third costal cartilage

M
Location: Upper third of the body of sternum.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 3rd rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 3rd rib.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the second costal cartilage

N
Location: At the sternal angle (junction between manubrium and body).

Function: Important anatomical landmark for rib counting.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 2nd rib (shared between manubrium and body).

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Clavicular notch

1
Location: Lateral to the jugular notch on the superior aspect of the manubrium.

Function: Site of articulation for the clavicles; helps form the sternoclavicular joint.

Articulations: Articulates with the sternal (medial) ends of both clavicles.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Facet for the first costal cartilage

2
Location: On the lateral border of the manubrium.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the first rib.

Articulations: Forms a synchondrosis (cartilaginous joint) with the first costal cartilage.

Sternal angle

3
Location: Junction between the manubrium and the body of the sternum.

Function: Landmark for rib counting; aligns with second rib and T4–T5 intervertebral disc.

Articulations:

Manubrium

Body of sternum

Second costal cartilage

Xiphisternal angle

4
Location: Junction of the body and the xiphoid process.

Function: Anatomical landmark for the inferior border of the thoracic cavity.

Articulations: Body of sternum and xiphoid process.

Xiphoid process

5
Location: Inferior tip of the sternum.

Function: Site of muscle attachment (e.g., diaphragm, rectus abdominis); important landmark for CPR.

Articulations: Xiphisternal joint with the body of the sternum.

Facet for the seventh costal cartilage

6
Location: On the inferior end of the body, near the xiphisternal junction.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 7th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 7th rib.

Facet for the sixth costal cartilage

7
Location: Lateral margin of the lower third of the body.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 6th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 6th rib.

Facet for the fifth costal cartilage

8
Location: Lateral margin of the body, above the 6th facet.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 5th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 5th rib.

Facet for the fourth costal cartilage

9
Location: Midsection of the body of sternum.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 4th rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 4th rib.

Facet for the third costal cartilage

10
Location: Upper third of the body of sternum.

Function: Receives the cartilage of the 3rd rib.

Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 3rd rib.

Facet for the second costal cartilage

11 Location: At the sternal angle (junction between manubrium and body). Function: Important anatomical landmark for rib counting. Articulations: Costal cartilage of the 2nd rib (shared between manubrium and body).

Crest

A Location: Ridge between the superior and inferior articular facets on the head of typical ribs (ribs 2–9). Function: Separates the two articular facets on the rib head. Articulations: Attaches to the intervertebral disc between two thoracic vertebrae via the intra-articular ligament. Helps the head of the rib articulate with the bodies of two adjacent thoracic vertebrae.

Inferior facet of the head

B Location: On the inferior aspect of the rib head (present in typical ribs). Function: Articulates with the superior costal facet of the corresponding vertebral body (e.g., rib 6 with T6). Articulations: Superior costal facet of the corresponding-numbered thoracic vertebra.

Neck

C Location: Narrow portion of the rib between the head and the tubercle. Function: Transmits force between the head and body of the rib; serves as a site for ligament attachment. Articulations: No direct articulation, but is closely associated with the transverse process of the vertebra.

Articular part of the tubercle

D Location: Medial part of the tubercle on the posterior rib surface. Function: Forms a synovial joint with the transverse process of the corresponding thoracic vertebra. Articulations: Transverse costal facet of the corresponding thoracic vertebra (e.g., rib 6 with T6).

Non-articular part of the tubercle

E Location: Lateral to the articular facet on the tubercle. Function: Site for attachment of the lateral costotransverse ligament. Articulations: None (ligament attachment site only).

Angle

F Location: Point where the rib curves sharply forward, located posteriorly. Function: Key structural bend that determines the shape of the rib cage; site for muscle and ligament attachment. Articulations: None (no direct joint), but closely related to thoracic vertebrae and back musculature.

Costal groove

G Location: On the internal, inferior surface of the rib shaft. Function: Protects the intercostal vein, artery, and nerve (VAN); provides a groove for their passage. Articulations: None (protective structure only).

Shaft

H Location: Long, flat, curved portion of the rib between the tubercle and anterior end. Function: Forms the bulk of the rib; provides structure and protection to thoracic organs. Articulations: No direct articulations, but the shaft ends anteriorly at the costal cartilage.

Anterior end

I Location: Flattened front end of the rib that connects to the costal cartilage. Function: Joins the rib to the sternum (directly or indirectly) via costal cartilage. Articulations: Ribs 1–7: Costal cartilage → sternum (true ribs) Ribs 8–10: Costal cartilage → cartilage of the rib above (false ribs) Ribs 11–12: No anterior articulation (floating ribs)

1st Rib

The first rib is short, broad and flattened. The head has one full facet that articulates only with the body of T1. The shaft has no costal groove. The anterior end passes under the clavicle to join the sternum.

2nd Rib

The second rib has a flattened appearance along the shaft, similar to the 1st rib, however it is twice as long as the 1st rib. The shaft is rough in appearance for muscle attachment. It articulates with the spine in a typical fashion, using two demi-facets found on T1 and T2 vertebral bodies. Anteriorly, its costal cartilage articulates with the demi-facets on both the manubrium and sternal body (at the lateral ends of the sternal angle)

10th Rib

This rib has only one facet at the head for articulation with the 10th thoracic vertebra. It has a tubercle for transverse process articulation and joins anteriorly to the upper costal cartilage of the 9th rib. Note: the 9th rib is sometimes be considered an atypical rib. It occasionally attaches to only one vertebral body (T9) at the head, similar to the 10th rib

11th/12th Rib

The 11th and 12th ribs have no anterior articulation. These ribs do not have a tubercle, neck, or costal groove, but have a single facet on their heads to articulate with their own vertebrae. They are both short and have little curve.

Rib Abnormalities

Cervical rib - an extra rib that is attached to cervical vertebrae #7. Lumbar Rib - an extra rib that can be attached to lumbar vertebrae #1 Missing 12th rib