What are the bones of the thorax

The human body It is divided into three major parts: the head, the trunk, and the extremities. Specifically, the trunk is divided into three parts known as the thorax, abdomen and pelvis. The thorax or rib cage is the upper part of the trunk that starts from the base of the neck to the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the thorax from the abdomen. In addition, it is shaped like a cone with the base larger than the top and can be widened to help the lungs function.

In the chest are several vital organs such as the heart, lungs, part of the trachea and esophagus, as well as arteries and veins, for example, the aorta artery and the vena cava. Therefore, the bones of the rib cage protect vital organs possible trauma, this being one of its most important functions.

According to human anatomy, the 37 bones of the thorax are as follows:

The ribs

There is a total of 24 ribs, specifically we find 12 on each side, which are long, flat and curved bones, whose main function is to protect the vital organs from possible blows from any angle but, above all, from the sides since on the sides are the only bones we have. The ribs are joined together by the intercostal cartilages, which help them to move to facilitate breathing. In addition, they join in the front to the sternum thanks to the costal cartilages and in the back, they connect with the spinal column through the costovertebral joints.

exist 3 types of ribs:

1. The real ribs: They are the first 7 ribs on each side, they are anchored to both the vertebrae and the sternum and, therefore, they are the strongest and strongest ribs.
2. The false ribs: The 3 ribs that follow the true ones on each side are known as false ribs, so called because they are connected directly with the vertebrae and indirectly connected to the sternum, through an extension of the cartilage. Therefore, these types of ribs are much more mobile than the true ones.
3. The floating ribs: These follow the false ones, we find 2 on each side and they are called floating due to the fact that they are only attached to the vertebrae, since they are not attached to the sternum in any way.

Sternum

It is a flat bone that usually measures about 15 centimeters in length and is located in the front part of the thorax, connecting the ribs and protecting the vital organs in front. This bone is subdivided into 3 parts:

1. The handlebar: upper part of the sternum through which the first true rib of each side joins and, in turn, the clavicle bones are articulated, this being the point of union of the thorax with the upper extremities.
2. The body of the sternum: It is the largest part of the sternum and is found right in the middle, attached to the rest of the true ribs directly and the false ribs indirectly.
3. The xiphoid process: lower part of the sternum that is usually shaped like a small point, although its shape can sometimes vary. For many years of our life it is a cartilage, but it ossifies until it is completely a bone in adulthood. Also, it is the only part of the sternum that is not attached to any rib.

The thoracic vertebrae

They are the vertebrae with less mobility and the largest that there are, they are found after the cervical, which connect with the head, and before the lumbar, which join with the pelvis and lower extremities. Therefore, you are 12 thoracic or dorsal vertebrae They are in the middle part of the spine and are attached to the ribs thanks to their articulation. They are called with a T in front that indicates that they belong to the thoracic region, so we find the vertebrae from T1 to T12.

Now that you know what are the bones of the thorax, You may also be interested in reading what are the bones of the leg or what are the extremities of the human body.

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