Thoracic Bones

neck of the rib

A constricted portion situated between the head and the tubercle

tubercle of the rib

A prominence of the outer surface of the rib at the junction of the neck with the shaft; it has a facet for articulation with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebra

sternal angle (Angle of Louis)

Angle that articulates the manubrium with the body of the sternum (manubriosternal joint); landmark for attachment of second pair of ribs

facets for clavicles

Articulation points for clavicles

facets for first and second costal cartilage

Articulation points for costal ribs

head of rib

Has 2 facets for articulation with the numerically corresponding vertebral body and that of the vertebra immediately above: SUPERIOR / INFERIOR COSTAL FACETS

body of the sternum

Has 2 joints (manubriosternal and xiphisternal); sides are notched with facets for articulation with costal cartilages

shaft of the rib

Is thin, flattened, and twisted on its long axis; its inferior border has the COSTAL GROOVE for nerves and vessels

STERNUM

Lies in the midline of the anterior chest wall. It is a flat bone that can be divided into 3 parts.

suprasternal notch / sternal notch

Notch on superior portion of manubrium

vertebrosternal ribs

Rib pairs 1-7 which are attached anteriorly to the sternum by their costal cartilages

vertebrochondral ribs

Rib pairs 8-10 which are attached anteriorly to each other and to the seventh rib by means of their costal cartilages and small synovial joints

vertebral ribs

Ribs 11-12 have no anterior attachments and are referred to as floating ribs

xiphoid process

The lowest and smallest part of the sternum. It is a thin plate of hyaline cartilage that becomes ossified at its proximal end in adult life.

THORAX

The part of the body between the neck and the abdomen that has in its walls a bony cartilaginous cage formed by the sternum, costal cartilages, ribs, and the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae

manubrium sterni

Upper part of the sternum

angle of the rib

Where the shaft of the rib bends sharply forward