Right twelfth rib

Looks like

The lowest and shortest floating rib, lying over the back of the kidney, with a free tip in the back muscles.

What it does

Anchors the diaphragm, back and flank muscles and protects the upper kidney.

Keeping it well

Blood in the urine after a blow here suggests kidney injury. Its length varies, which can mislead rib counting on X-rays.

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