Exemplar Problems

Question 1

Describe the different categories of ribs and their respective attachments to the sternum.

Solution: The ribs are categorized into three types: true ribs, false ribs, and floating ribs. True ribs (1st to 7th pairs) attach directly to the sternum via their costal cartilages. False ribs (8th to 10th pairs) do not attach directly to the sternum but are connected to the 7th rib’s cartilage, thus attaching indirectly. Floating ribs (11th and 12th pairs) do not attach to the sternum at all and are instead connected only to the vertebrae at the back.