Ribs refer to the bony spindles around your torso, which are attached to the sternum. Ribs help to protect the heart, lungs, spleen, and liver. They also give the chest cavity its shape, which helps with breathing. The ribs are not as strong as many of the other bones in your body. They can become lethal when broken as they can end up piercing an organ. Below are some facts to know about the anatomy of human ribs.
There Are Three Types of Ribs
Human beings have twelve pairs of ribs. The first seven pairs from the top are usually referred to as true ribs. That is because they connect to both the spine and the sternum. The next two ribs are known as false ribs. The ribs do not connect to the sternum directly but rather have cartilage that connects them to it. The last two pairs of ribs are called the floating ribs. That is because they connect only to the spine but not to the sternum. They are shorter than the other ribs.
Men and Women Have the Same Number of Ribs
There is a common misconception that originates from religion, which states that women have more ribs than men. The truth is that both men and women have the same number of ribs as gender is not the determining factor. However, the volume of men’s ribs is usually about 10% more than women’s.
You Can Fracture a Rib By Sneezing
Traumatic events like car accidents or hard tackles in sports are the common causes of rib fractures. However, there is also a chance of getting a rib fracture from coughing or sneezing. The force exerted by the chest wall muscles around the ribs as they contract when you sneeze or cough causes the fracture.
There Are Individuals With Thirteen Pairs of Ribs
There Are Individuals With Thirteen Pairs of RibsIn some rare cases, a human can have an extra pair of ribs. That usually does not have anything to do with gender. The extra lumbar ribs are a lot like those found in gorillas, which is why they are known as gorilla ribs.
Ribs Usually Move
The ribs usually move to allow for the expansion of the thoracic cage as you breathe. The movement is made possible by the costal cartilages, which are fibrous tissues. The ribs usually move upwards and outwards as you inhale and downwards and inwards as you exhale.…
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