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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Bones and the Skeleton

Rib cage

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈrɪb ˌkeɪdʒ/nounCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, rib cage means: The bony frame of the chest formed by 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum and the thoracic vertebrae. It protects the heart and lungs and moves during breathing.

In Turkish: göğüs kafesi, kaburgalar

How it is used

Students learn the true ribs (1–7, attached directly to the sternum), the false ribs (8–12) and the floating ribs (11–12). The muscles between the ribs are the intercostal muscles. The technical adjective for ribs is costal.

Example sentences

  1. The rib cage expands when you breathe in.

  2. The liver and spleen are partly protected by the lower rib cage.

Common collocations

  • lower rib cage
  • intercostal muscles
  • floating ribs
  • costal cartilage
  • thoraxThe chest: the part of the trunk between the neck and the abdomen. It is enclosed by the ribs, sternum and thoracic vertebrae and contains the heart and lungs.
  • vertebraOne of the roughly 33 small bones stacked to form the spine (vertebral column). Each has a body, an arch and an opening through which the spinal cord passes.
  • lungOne of the two spongy organs in the chest where oxygen passes from the air into the blood and carbon dioxide leaves it. The right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two.
  • diaphragmThe dome-shaped sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. When it contracts it flattens and draws air into the lungs; it is the main muscle of breathing.
  • cartilageA firm but flexible connective tissue with no blood vessels. It covers the ends of bones in joints, gives shape to the nose and ears, and connects the ribs to the sternum.

More terms: Bones and the Skeleton

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.