Ribs

The ribs form the lateral walls of the thorax (chest). They form joints with the thoracic vertebrae dorsally and join the sternum ventrally.

Each rib consists of a boney portion dorsally, a costochondral junction, and a cartilagenous portion, the costal cartilage, at its ventral end. The costal cartilages attach the ventral end of each rib to the sternum, or to another costal cartilage.