| 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
  
|
 | 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
|
|
