The ribs are an essential part of the human skeleton that surround the chest cavity, protecting many vital organs. Humans have 12 pairs of ribs that make up the rib cage. The rib cage belongs to the respiratory system and surrounds the lungs.
As with most bones, the rib cage plays an important part in giving the human body its shape. The ribs support the chest cavity and give it shape. The rib cage holds the pectoral girdle up, supporting the shoulders. These bones are an integral piece of a human’s core shape.
Despite the biblical story of Adam’s missing rib, in most cases, both men and women have the same number of ribs. Occasionally, an individual will have one more cervical rib than normal. This occurs in less than one percent of individuals, though this occurs more often in women than in men.
The first 14 ribs — seven on each side — in the rib cage are known as true ribs. These bones are attached to the breastbone at one end and the backbone, or spine, at the other end.
The five pairs of ribs that follow are referred to as false ribs. These are shorter than the bones above. The top three pairs of false ribs are attached to the spine in the same manner as the previous bones, but they are not attached to the breastbone. Instead, these false ribs are connected to the lowest of the seven true ribs.
The final two pairs in the rib cage are termed floating ribs. Though they connect to the spine in the back of the body, they do not connect to any other part of the rib cage in the front. While all previous pairs of bones have both a head to attach to the vertebra and a tubercle on the opposite end of the rib, the floating ribs have only the head.
The lungs take up the majority of the space within the rib cage. As one breathes, the ribs move up and down. Inhaling causes the ribcage to expand upward and outward. As one exhales, the ribcage contracts and moves downward.
The rib cage acts as a protective barrier around the heart and lungs as well as areas of the stomach, kidneys, and spleen. While this cage serves to keep them safe, it can also prove dangerous. The rib bones are delicate and can be broken easily. A broken rib may puncture nearby organs if it shifts inward.