rib cage

(noun)

A part of the skeleton within the thoracic area consisting of ribs, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae.

Related Terms

  • pectoral girdle
  • bony labyrinth
  • membranous labyrinth
  • ossicle
  • vertebral column

Examples of rib cage in the following topics:

  • Thoracic Cage: Ribs

    • Ribs are long, curved bones that form the rib cage surrounding the thorax.
    • The thoracic cage can expand and contract to facilitate breathing in association with the diaphragm; it also protects the lungs, heart, and other organs of the thoracic cavity.
    • Finally, the shaft forms the majority of the length of the rib as it curves around the thoracic cavity forming the rib cage.
    • Rib 1 is the shortest and most curved of the ribs.
    • Lateral view of rib cage showing its connections to vertebrae.
  • Overview of the Axial Skeleton

    • It is composed of: the human skull, the ossicles of the middle ear, the hyoid bone of the throat, the rib cage (including the sternum), and the vertebral column.
    • The human rib cage, also known as the thoracic cage, is a bony and cartilaginous structure which surrounds the thoracic cavity and supports the pectoral girdle, forming a core portion of the human skeleton.
    • A typical human rib cage consists of 24 ribs, the sternum, costal cartilages, and the 12 thoracic vertebrae .
  • Thoracic Cage: Sternum

    • The sternum or breastbone is a long, flat, bony plate connected to the rib bones via cartilage that forms the anterior section of the rib cage.
    • Together with the anterior ribs it helps to protect the heart and lungs from damage, as well as facilitates the expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity during respiration.
    • The manubrium is the most superior region of the sternum and articulates with the clavicles or collarbones and the first pair of ribs.
    • Located below the manubrium, the gladiolus is the longest portion of the sternum and articulates with the ribs, either directly or indirectly, through the costal cartilage
    • Explain the structure and function of the sternum in the thoracic cage
  • Rib Fracture, Dislocation, and Separation

    • Joint dislocations and rib cage fractures are painful but treatable injuries involving the axial skeleton.
    • A rib fracture is a break or fracture in one or more of the bones making up the rib cage.
    • Fractures of the first and second ribs may be more likely to be associated with head and facial injuries than are other rib fractures.
    • The middle ribs are the ones most commonly fractured.
    • Rib fractures are usually quite painful because the ribs have to move to allow for breathing.
  • Anterior Muscles

    • All intercostal muscles originate on the lower border of a rib and attach to the upper border of the rib below.
    • Diaphragm - The diaphragm is a large, flat, sheet-like muscle that extends horizontally underneath the rib cage.
    • Functionally, the diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity, containing the lungs and heart and enclosed by the rib cage  from the abdominal cavity, which contains the digestive organs.
    • Attachments – Originates from the pubis and attaches to the lower edge of the rib cage and sternum.
    • The intercostals are muscles between the ribs that form the chest cavity wall.
  • The Axial Skeleton

    • The rib cage is composed of 25 bones that include the 12 pairs of ribs plus the sternum.
    • The first seven pairs of ribs attach to the sternum with costal cartilage and are known as true ribs.
    • After rib seven, the size begins to decrease.
    • The 8th through 10th ribs have noncostal cartilage that connects them to the ribs above.
    • The last two ribs are called floating ribs because they do not attach to the sternum or to other ribs.
  • Aging and the Respiratory System

    • Expiration follows relaxation of diaphragm and abdominal muscles, but can be increased by the downward action of abdominal muscles on the rib cage.
    • Auxiliary intercostal muscles stiffen and shape the rib cage.
  • Human Axial Skeleton

    • The thoracic cage, also known as the ribcage, is the skeleton of the chest.
    • It consists of the ribs, sternum, thoracic vertebrae, and costal cartilages .
    • Costal cartilages connect the anterior ends of the ribs to the sternum, with the exception of rib pairs 11 and 12, which are free-floating ribs.
    • The thoracic cage, or rib cage, protects the heart and the lungs.
    • The axial skeleton consists of the bones of the skull, ossicles of the middle ear, hyoid bone, vertebral column, and rib cage.
  • Lungs

    • The rib cage is a structure of bones that surrounds and protects the thoracic cavity, with 12 ribs protecting each of the two lungs.
    • The rib cage itself is also able to expand and contract to some degree during breathing, through the action of other respiratory and accessory respiratory muscles.
  • Electrostatic Shielding

    • When an external electric field operates on a Faraday cage, the charges within the cage (which are mobile, as the cage is a conductor) rearrange themselves to directly counteract the field and thus "shield" the interior of the cage from the external field
    • The action of a Faraday cage may depend on whether or not it is grounded.
    • Consider a charge placed within a cage.
    • If the cage is not grounded, electrons in the cage will redistribute such that the interior wall of the cage takes on a charge opposite the internal charge.
    • As the field is applied, the negative charge from the cage migrates toward the positive end of the field, canceling the effects of the field at both ends of the cage.
Subjects
  • Accounting
  • Algebra
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Writing

Except where noted, content and user contributions on this site are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 with attribution required.