Left seventh rib

Looks like

The last true rib: the lowest rib whose own cartilage reaches the breastbone directly.

What it does

Protects the lower lung, heart and upper abdominal organs and moves with breathing.

Keeping it well

Its cartilage junction can become inflamed and tender (costochondritis), which is harmless but can mimic heart pain.

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