Bony Boundaries of the Thorax

  • sternum
    • manubrium (1)
    • sternal angle (2)
    • body (3)
    • xiphoid process (4)
  • 12 pairs of ribs
    • 6 or 7 pairs of true ribs (5)
    • 3 or 4 pairs of false ribs (6)
    • 2 pairs of floating ribs (7)
  • thoracic inlet (superiorly) (8)
  • thoracic outlet (inferiorly) (9)
  • thoracic vertebrae, posteriorly
lateral thorax thoracic vertebrae
True ribs have direct attachment between the vertebrae and the sternum. Each rib attaches to the sternum by its own costal cartilage

False ribs attach to the sternum by way of costal cartilage above it.

Floating ribs do not have an anterior attachment at all

Thorax General Information Bones of the Thorax


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