Left sixth rib

Looks like

A long rib at the lower front of the chest, whose cartilage reaches the lower end of the breastbone.

What it does

Protects the lower lungs and heart and anchors breathing muscles.

Keeping it well

Falls and coughing fits can crack it. Chest wall pain that worsens on pressing is usually muscular or bony, not from the heart.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Sarcoma
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency