Thoracic Cage Flashcards
What does “thorax” refer to?
It refers to the part of the mammal that is between the neck and abdomen or middle.
What bones make up the thoracic cage?
Ribs and sternum
What is the main function of the thoracic cage?
Protection
What is the main purpose of the thoracic cage?
Protect vital organs (shaped like bird cage).
What are the 3 parts of the sternum?
The Manubrium (top), body (middle), and xyphoid process (bottom).
Where does the manubrium attach to?
It attaches to the clavicle (collar bone).
Where does the body attach to?
It attaches to costal cartilage that attaches the ribs.
What is the xyphoid process?
It is an attachment point for muscles.
How many pairs of ribs are there? Total number?
There are 12 pairs of ribs, 24 total.
How many pairs are true ribs and false ribs?
The first 7 pairs are true ribs and the other 5 pairs are false ribs. Each pair connects to its own vertebrae.
What are true ribs?
True ribs connect to the sternum with their own costal cartilage that attaches to the sternum.
What are false ribs? What are floating ribs?
False ribs do not connect directly to the sternum. The first 3 pairs connect to the costal cartilage of the 7th true rib. The last 2 pairs don’t connect at the front, so they are floating.
