Question

State whether the given statement is true or false. There are 11 pairs of ribs in man.

Answer 1

Ribs are the vital part of the body, it helps in protecting the internal organs by protecting them as a shield of bones hugging the organs all around. Ribs also give support to the body, it helps in respiration by providing an increase and decrease of the thoracic cavity, all the major bones such as a vertebral column are attached to the ribs.

Complete answer:
- Ribs give major support to the skeleton, it is attached to major bones such as the vertebral column specifically with the lumbar vertebra where the rib bones are attached and form a cavity.
- This cavity provides protection to the organs such as lungs and heart.
- It helps in respiration by providing the thoracic cavity increase in volume for inspiration and decreasing the volume for expiration.
- Ribs are divided into subparts.
- The clavicle is the topmost bone of the rib cage it comes under the shoulder girdle.
- Ribs are divided into 3 parts: True ribs, false ribs, floating ribs.
- True ribs consist of (1-7) bones.
- False ribs consist of (8-11) bones.
- Floating ribs come after ( 11th) pair of false ribs.
- They are known as floating ribs differentiated from the false ribs because they are connected on the back to the lumbar vertebra but are open from the front part.
- True ribs plus false ribs give a total of 11 bones.
- These ribs are present in pairs and form a circular structure.

Note: There are a total of 24 numbers of rib bones on each pair. It can be said that there are 11 pairs because of the presence of two false ribs. But, in total, there are 12 pairs of ribs. Ribs are long curved bones, they are connected to the sternum vertebrae by costal cartilage. During respiration, the flexibility is achieved by the ribs with help of hyaline cartilage.