Left ninth rib

Looks like

A false rib low on the chest, its cartilage joining the rib above and forming part of the lower rib margin.

What it does

Covers the liver, spleen and upper kidney and anchors the diaphragm and abdominal muscles.

Keeping it well

Fractures here raise concern for spleen or liver injury. A loose cartilage tip can cause a clicking, painful 'slipping rib'.

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