Question

How many ribs does the human body have? What are “false” ribs?

Answer 1

Ribs are the protective covering for the lungs. Lungs are caged inside the ribs for any abnormal situation. Ribs are shaped like that in a caged manner. Ribs are nothing but bones designed and serve the only purpose to protect major organs in the body like-lungs and heart. The breastbone or sternum is the middle portion of the cage.

Complete answer:
The number of ribs is twelve pairs that is twenty-four in number. Ribs are slightly different in males and females as males have broader ribs though there is no specific difference in both sexes’ ribs. Females have lighter ribs than males. Ten percent weigh less than males.
The exception in having ribs are people having defects like genetic defects have increased bone in ribs called supernumerary ribs or less in number that is less than twelve pairs is called agenesis of ribs. The ribs are made up of individual curved bones which are connected to the sternum by cartilage; there are segments of hyaline cartilage that allow the rib cage to expand during respiration.
The ribs are fixed in their place however, they share some kind of outward movement as if it does not allow the inhalation and exhalation of breathing to take place.
Now, let us discuss the true and false ribs. The first seven pairs of ribs are called true ribs. The true ribs are joined by costal cartilage. While the rest five sets are called false ribs or the last five sets are called false ribs. Out of five false ribs three ribs are joined with non-costal cartilage. And last two are floating, that is they are connected to spine.

Note:
As we discussed what are false ribs, in between ribs the cartilage is being piled up to provide elasticity to the ribs to expand as the breathing process takes place. The rib cage is attached to the vertebral column at the back and to the thorax in mostly all vertebrates. The rib cage as we already knew protects the major organs-heart and lungs from being damaged.