Humans have five pairs of false ribs.
Understanding True and False Ribs
The human rib cage consists of 12 pairs of ribs. These ribs are categorized into three types:
- True ribs (7 pairs): These ribs are directly connected to the sternum (breastbone) via their individual costal cartilages.
- False ribs (5 pairs): These ribs do not connect directly to the sternum. Ribs 8-10 connect indirectly to the sternum through the costal cartilage of the rib above.
- Floating ribs (2 pairs): These are the last two pairs of ribs (11 and 12). They are only attached to the vertebrae in the back and do not connect to the sternum at all.
The term "false ribs" refers to their indirect or lack of direct connection to the sternum, not a suggestion that they are somehow less functional.
Why the Distinction?
Understanding the difference between true and false ribs is important for understanding rib cage biomechanics and for diagnosing certain medical conditions.
References
- The lower five pairs of ribs (ribs eight to twelve) are known as false ribs because their costal cartilages do not articulate directly with the sternum.
- Ribs 8–10 are known as false ribs. These do not connect to the sternum individually. Instead, costal cartilage anchors them to the ribs above… (Medical News Today)
- In humans there are normally 12 pairs of ribs. The first seven pairs are attached directly to the sternum by costal cartilages and are called… (Britannica)
- There are 12 pairs of ribs in the human chest, each of which is a thin flat bone attached to the spinal column dorsally and the sternum ventrally. (Byjus)
- Most humans have seven pairs of true ribs. Within the human rib cage, there are usually 12 pairs of ribs. From the top of the rib cage going down,… (Homework.Study.com)
- 8-12 rib pairs are called false ribs. Our thoracic cage or rib cage is composed of 12 pairs of ribs, sternum, cartilages and… (Socratic)
- ... ribs, whereas those that do not articulate directly are termed false ribs. (Wikipedia)
- The true ribs are those from 1-7, and the false ribs are those from 8-12. (Brainly)
- Two floating ribs which connect only at the back (11&12) Thus the total number of false ribs are 6 ie three on each side. So the correct option is '6'. (Toppr)
