Rib cage

Looks like

The bony cage of 12 pairs of ribs joined to the thoracic spine behind and, mostly through cartilage, to the breastbone in front.

What it does

Shields the heart, lungs, liver and spleen and expands and lifts during breathing.

Keeping it well

Rib fractures hurt on breathing; several broken ribs, coughing blood or growing breathlessness need emergency care.

Its parts

• Right first rib
• Right second rib
• Right third rib
• Right fourth rib
• Right fifth rib
• Right sixth rib
• Right seventh rib
• Right eighth rib
• Right ninth rib
• Right tenth rib
• Right eleventh rib
• Right twelfth rib
• Right side of rib cage
• Left side of rib cage

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoma
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency