RIBS
1.
Twelve
pairs of ribs give structural support to the sides of thoracic cavity.
2.
They
increase in length from 1 to 7 and then decrease in length from 8 to 12.
3.
Each
rib articulates posteriorly with the corresponding thoracic vertebra.
4.
The
first 1-7 pairs of ribs have a direct anterior attachment to the sternum by a
strip of hyaline cartilage (costal cartilage), providing elasticity to
the thoracic cage, this ribs are called as true ribs
(vertebrosternal) forming sternocostal joints with the sternum.
5.
The
remaining 5 pairs (8-12) are called false ribs (either attach indirectly to the sternum or do not
attach to sternum).
6.
The
cartilages of 8-10 pairs of ribs attach to one another and then to the
cartilages of 7th pair of ribs these are called vertebrochondral ribs.
7.
The
11th and 12th pairs are called floating ribs and do not attach
to the sternum at all.
8.
Costochondritis (Inflammation of one or more costal cartilages) causes local tenderness and pain
and mimics the chest pain associated with a heart attack (angina pectoris).
9.
The
posterior portion of the rib connects to a thoracic vertebra by its head (vertebrocostal
joint) and the articular part of a tubercle.
10. The facet of the head fits into a
facet on the body of one vertebra into the demifacets of two adjoining
vertebra.
11. Intercostal spaces are occupied
by intercostal muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. The costal cartilages are
sufficiently elastic in younger individuals to permit considerable bending
without breaking.
12. Special rib refractors are used
to create a wide separation between ribs to gain access for surgery of lungs or
other structures.
Fracture of ribs.
v
Rib
fractures are the most common chest injuries due to accidents.
v
Ribs
tend to break at the point where the greatest force is applied, but they may
also break at their weakest point- the
site of greatest curvature , just anterior to the costal angle.
v
The
middle ribs are the most commonly fractured.
v
Fractured
ribs may puncture the heart, great vessels of the heart, linings, trachea ,bronchi,
esophagus , spleen, liver and kidneys.
v
Rib
fractures are usually quite painful. Such fractures cannot be bound with
bandages because of the pneumonia that would result from lack of proper lung
ventilation.
v
Dislocated ribs : (common
in body contact sports) involve displacement of a costal cartilage from the
sternum, with resulting pain, especially during deep inhalations.
v
Separated ribs is the displacement of a rib and
its costal cartilage. As a result of it, a rib may move superiorly , overriding
the rib above and causing severe pain.
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