No, a man cannot live without ribs. While a person can survive without some ribs, completely lacking a rib cage makes breathing impossible.
The Importance of the Rib Cage
The rib cage is crucial for several vital functions:
- Protecting vital organs: The ribs protect the heart and lungs from external trauma.
- Facilitating breathing: The rib cage expands and contracts to allow the lungs to inflate and deflate during respiration. The intercostal muscles, located between the ribs, are essential for this process. Without a rib cage, these muscles cannot function effectively.
References explicitly state that the absence of ribs renders unassisted breathing impossible. This is because the rib cage's structure is essential for the mechanics of lung expansion and contraction. Survival without a rib cage would therefore be highly unlikely, even with significant medical intervention. Even the removal of only some ribs can impact breathing and lung capacity, significantly altering quality of life. While some individuals may be born with severely reduced numbers of ribs, their survival often requires extensive medical support.
Although sources mention living without several organs, these examples do not contradict the crucial role of the rib cage in respiration. The body’s resilience doesn't extend to completely lacking the skeletal framework necessary for breathing.
