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Ribs, sternum, and shoulder girdle bones

13 articles

Accessory rib

Accessory rib (supernumerary rib), most often the cervical rib from C7, also lumbar or intrathoracic; congenital extra rib, prevalence about 1%, can cause thoracic outlet syndrome.

Acromion

The acromion is the bony projection of the scapular spine that arches over the shoulder joint and articulates with the clavicle. Covers its ossification, Bigliani shape types, dimensions, os acromiale, and impingement relevance.

Cervical rib

Cervical rib (Eve's rib): supernumerary rib from C7, present in roughly 0.2–1% of people, more often in women; usually asymptomatic but a leading cause of thoracic outlet syndrome, treated by rib resection when conservative care fails.

Clavicle

Clavicle (collarbone): the doubly curved bone linking sternum and scapula, the only bony connection of arm to trunk. Ossifies first among long bones; fractures are ~5% of adult fractures.

Coracoid process

Coracoid process: hook-shaped projection of the scapula, the shoulder's "lighthouse" landmark; anchors pectoralis minor, biceps short head, coracobrachialis and four ligaments; graft source in Latarjet instability surgery.

Rib

Rib: one of typically 12 pairs of curved chest bones forming the thoracic cage; ribs 1-7 true, 8-10 false, 11-12 floating; commonly variable, with cervical ribs in up to 1% of people.

Rib cage

Rib cage (thoracic cage): bony chest framework of 24 ribs, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and sternum, 37 bones and 98 joints; protects heart and lungs, moves with breathing, true/false/floating ribs.

Scapula

Scapula (shoulder blade): flat triangular pectoral-girdle bone on the upper back; glenoid cavity holds the humeral head, spine ends in the acromion, coracoid anchors muscles, over 10 muscles attach.

Shoulder girdle

Shoulder girdle (pectoral girdle): the clavicle and scapula linking the upper limb to the axial skeleton, with three joints and two gliding zones, a 2:1 scapulohumeral rhythm, and a defined trauma and clinical-testing literature.

Sternum

Sternum (breastbone): flat midline chest bone of manubrium, body, and xiphoid process; protects the mediastinum, anchors ribs 1-7 via costal cartilage, and marks the sternal angle at the 2nd rib.

Thoracic wall

Thoracic wall (chest wall): the musculoskeletal enclosure of the thorax, bounded by sternum, 12 rib pairs, thoracic vertebrae, and diaphragm, with intercostal muscles, neurovascular bundles, and roles in protection and breathing.

Thorax

Thorax: the body region between neck and abdomen, enclosed by the rib cage (12 rib pairs, sternum, 12 thoracic vertebrae), containing heart and lungs in mediastinum and pleural cavities; key breathing and trauma anatomy.

Xiphoid process

Xiphoid process (xiphisternum, processus xiphoideus sterni): the smallest, most inferior part of the sternum, 2–5 cm, cartilage at birth ossifying variably with age; anchors the diaphragm, rectus abdominis, obliques, and linea alba, and is highly variable in shape (bifid, curved, foramina).