Description
The false ribs are one of the three groups of ribs in the thoracic cage, the other two being the true and floating ribs. The false ribs consist of the eighth to tenth ribs and are classified as “false” because their corresponding costal cartilages attach indirectly to the sternum by attaching to the costal cartilages above each of them.
The false ribs are also known as vertebrochondral ribs since these ribs articulate both:
- posteriorly, with vertebrae;
- anteriorly, with numerically corresponding costal cartilages that are attached to the costal cartilages above.
Related parts of the anatomy
