Left fifth costal cartilage

Looks like

The bar of cartilage joining the fifth rib to the lower breastbone.

What it does

Links the rib to the sternum and adds flexibility to the chest wall.

Keeping it well

Can be the site of tender swelling (Tietze syndrome) or costochondritis. Also a donor site for cartilage grafts.

Related conditions

• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder