The Rib Cage (24 ribs total)

True Ribs

-The first seven pairs of rib bones (beginning at the top of the sternum) are called "true ribs. -They connect to the spine (by ligaments) at the back, and connect to the sternum by costal cartilage in the front.

Floating Ribs

-The last two pairs of ribs (11 and 12) are the smallest of all of the rib bones, and are called floating ribs. -They get the name "floating rib" because they are connected to the spin at the back, but are not connected to anything at the front, thus appearing to "float."

False Ribs

-The next three pairs of rib bones (8, 9 and 10) are called "false ribs. -False ribs are connected to the spine at the back. -The difference in true ribs and false ribs is where the false ribs connect at the front. -Instead of connecting to the sternum, false ribs (which are shorter than true ribs) connect to the lowest true ribs.