False ribs articulate with the costal cartilage of the rib above articulate with the costal cartilage of the rib below articulate with the sternum articulate with the lumbar vertebrae have no articulation with the vertebral column
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: have no articulation with the vertebral column.
Explanation:
False ribs are the 8th, 9th, and 10th pairs of ribs in the human ribcage. They are termed “false ribs” because, unlike the true ribs (1st to 7th pairs), they do not directly articulate with the sternum. Instead, they connect to the costal cartilage of the rib above them. This means that their cartilage is connected to the cartilage of the rib directly above rather than to the sternum itself.
In more detail:
- True ribs (1st to 7th pairs) have direct connections to the sternum via their own costal cartilage.
- False ribs (8th to 10th pairs) do not connect directly to the sternum. Instead, their costal cartilages fuse to the cartilage of the rib above.
- The 11th and 12th ribs, known as floating ribs, do not attach to the sternum or the costal cartilage either and have no anterior attachment.
So, the false ribs have no articulation with the vertebral column directly. They are attached to the vertebrae posteriorly but do not reach the sternum in the front. This differs from the true ribs, which are directly connected to both the vertebrae and the sternum.
The false ribs’ lack of direct attachment to the sternum contributes to the flexibility of the ribcage, which aids in respiratory movements, particularly in expanding and contracting the chest cavity for breathing. This structure also helps protect vital organs while allowing for some movement necessary for breathing.
