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1. The meat cut (beef, lamb or veal) from between the short loin and the chuck. Chops, steaks and roasts (depending on the animal) are cut from the rib section, which is very tender. See also rib roast; rib steak. 2. A single stalk of a celery bunch, though some cooks refer to the entire bunch as a rib. In general, the words rib and stalk describe the same thing.

verb

To tease or mock good-humoredly: banter, chaff, joke, josh. Informal kid, ride. Slang jive, rag², razz. See laughter.

n. any of the curved transverse pieces of metal or timber in a ship, extending up from the keel and forming part of the framework of the hull.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

1. A curved structural member supporting any curved shape or panel.
2. In vaulted roofs, the moldings which project from the surface and separate the various roof or ceiling panels.
3. A raised ridge or fold which is formed in sheet metal (or a formed section attached thereto) to provide stiffness.

rib, 1 of an arch

ribs, 2 dividing a ceiling into squares

One of 12 pairs of long, flat, curved bones forming part of the thoracic cage, attached at one end to a thoracic vertebra. See also false ribs, floating ribs, true ribs.

The main vein or any prominent ridge or vein of a leaf or other plant organ.

Any one of the paired, curved, cylindrical bones, extending from the thoracic vertebrae to the ventral aspect of the trunk, forming the major part of the thoracic skeleton, and consisting of a dorsal bony part and a ventral cartilaginous part that may or may not articulate with the sternum. Typically 13 pairs in the dog, cat and ruminants, 18 pairs in horses and 14 or 15 pairs in the pig. Called also costa.

• abdominal r's, asternal r's — a rib whose ventral end does not meet the sternum. See also false ribs (below).
• cervical r. — a supernumerary rib arising from a cervical vertebra.
• r. contractor — a strongly built device for pulling ribs together following retraction for surgical access to the thoracic cavity.
• false r's — the caudal ribs, not attached directly to the sternum but are attached to each other's sternal cartilage to form the costal arch.
• floating r. — a rib whose distal extremity is unattached to an adjacent rib or the sternum.
• r. retractor — heavy duty surgical instrument for separating ribs to allow surgeon better access to thoracic contents. See finochietto rib spreader.
• slipping r. — one whose attaching cartilage is repeatedly dislocated.
• sternal r. — true ribs articulating with the sternum.
• true r's — the ribs attached to both vertebrae and sternum.
• vertebral r's — floating ribs.
• vertebrocostal r's — the false ribs that contribute to the costal arch.
• vertebrosternal r's — true ribs.

• Trunk - rib: paired curved bones protecting entire viscera, ten fixed and two floating
• Building and Machine Parts - rib: crosswise reinforcing element
• Airframe and Engines - rib: structural crosspiece attached to spar to strengthen wing
• roast
• steak
• Expressions of Feeling - rib: tease

This article is about the part of the skeleton. For other uses, see Rib (disambiguation).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008)

Single human rib-detail

The human rib cage (Source: Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, 20th ed. 1918)

In vertebrate anatomy, ribs (Latin: costae) are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax. In some animals, especially snakes, ribs may provide support and protection for the entire body.

Contents 1 Human anatomy 2 In animals 3 See also 4 References

Human anatomy

Main article: Human rib cage

Humans have 24 ribs (12 pairs). The first seven sets of ribs, known as "true ribs", are directly attached to the sternum through the costal cartilage. Rib 1 is unique and harder to distinguish from other ribs. It is a short, flat, C-shaped bone. The vertebral attachment can be found just below the neck and the majority of this bone can be found above the level of the clavicle. Ribs 2 through 7 have a more traditional appearance.^[1] The following five sets are known as "false ribs", three of these sharing a common cartilaginous connection to the sternum, while the last two (eleventh and twelfth ribs) are termed floating ribs (costae fluitantes) or vertebral ribs. They are attached to the vertebrae only, and not to the sternum or cartilage coming off of the sternum. Some people are missing one of the two pairs of floating ribs, while others have a third pair. Rib removal is the surgical excision of ribs for therapeutic or cosmetic reasons.

In general, human ribs increase in length from ribs 1 through 7 and decrease in length again through rib 12. Along with this change in size, the ribs become progressively oblique (slanted) from ribs 1 through 9, then less slanted through rib 12.^[1]

X-ray image of human chest, with ribs labelled

The ribcage is separated from the lower abdomen by the thoracic diaphragm which controls breathing. When the diaphragm contracts, the thoracic cavity is expanded, reducing intra-thoracic pressure and drawing air into the lungs. This happens through one of two actions (or a mix of the two): when the lower ribs the diaphragm connects to are stabilized by muscles and the central tendon is mobile, when the muscle contracts the central tendon is drawn down, compressing the cavity underneath and expanding the thoracic cavity downward. When the central tendon is stabilized and the lower ribs are mobile, a contraction of the diaphragm elevates the ribs, which works in conjunction with other muscles to expand the thoracic indent upward.

In animals

Skeleton of a dog showing the location of the ribs

Ribcage of Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat)

In fish, there are often two sets of ribs attached to the vertebral column. One set, the dorsal ribs, are found in the dividing septum between the upper and lower parts of the main muscle segments, projecting roughly sideways from the vertebral column. The second set, of ventral ribs arise from the vertebral column just below the dorsal ribs, and enclose the lower body, often joining at the tips. Not all species possess both types of rib, with the dorsal ribs being most commonly absent. Sharks, for example, have no dorsal ribs, and only very short ventral ribs, while lampreys have no ribs at all. In some teleosts, there may be additional rib-like bones within the muscle mass.^[2]

Tetrapods, however, only ever have a single set of ribs which are probably homologous with the dorsal ribs of fishes. In the early tetrapods, every vertebra bore a pair of ribs, although those on the thoracic vertebrae are typically the longest. The sacral ribs were stout and short, since they formed part of the pelvis, connecting the backbone to the hip bones.^[2]

In most subsequent forms, many of these early ribs have been lost, and in living amphibians and reptiles, there is great variation in rib structure and number. For example, turtles have only eight pairs of ribs, which are developed into a bony or cartilagenous carapace and plastron, while snakes have numerous ribs running along the full length of their trunk. Frogs typically have no ribs, aside from a sacral pair, which form part of the pelvis.^[2]

In birds, ribs are present as distinct bones only on the thoracic region, although small fused ribs are present on the cervical vertebrae. The thoracic ribs of birds possess a wide projection to the rear; this uncinate process is an attachment for the shoulder muscles.^[2] Usually dogs have 26 ribs Mammals usually also only have distinct ribs on the thoracic vertebra, although fixed cervical ribs are also present in monotremes. In marsupials and placental mammals, the cervical and lumbar ribs are found only as tiny remnants fused to the vertebrae, where they are referred to as transverse processes. In general, the structure and number of the true ribs in humans is similar to that in other mammals. Unlike reptiles, caudal ribs are never found in mammals.^[2]

See also

Look up rib in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Bone terminology
• Human rib cage
• Rib fracture
• Terms for anatomical location
• Ribs (food)
• Ribs (human body)
• Rib removal

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Saladin, K. S. (2010). Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Romer, Alfred Sherwood; Parsons, Thomas S. (1977). The Vertebrate Body. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. pp. 170–173. ISBN 0-03-910284-X. 

• Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 4th ed. Keith L. Moore and Robert F. Dalley. pp. 62–64

v t e Human regional anatomy (TA A01.1) Head Forehead · Ear · Jaw · Face (Cheek, Eye, Nose, Mouth, Chin) · Occiput · Scalp · Temple Neck Throat · Adam's apple Trunk Chest (Breast) · Abdomen (Navel) · Back · Pelvis (Sex organs) Limbs Upper limb Shoulder · Axilla · Arm Elbow · Forearm Wrist · Hand · Finger (Thumb · Index · Middle · Ring · Little) Lower limb/ (see also leg) Hip · Buttocks · Thigh Knee · Calf · Crus Ankle · Heel · Foot · Toe (Hallux · Long  • Third  • Fourth  • Fifth) · Sole General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - ribben, ribbenssteg, ribstrikning, højreb
v. tr. - forsyne ngt. med ribber, [sl.] lave sjov med

idioms:

• rib cage    brystkasse

n. - ribbon (bånd), routing information base (ruteinformationsbase)

Nederlands (Dutch)
rib, ribbel, nerf, balein, ribbels maken, plagen

Français (French)
n. - solive, (Anat, Culin) côte, baleine (d'un parapluie), (Bot) nervure, (Archit) nervure, (Naut) membrure, (Aviat) nervure, côte (au tricot)
v. tr. - taquiner

idioms:

• rib cage    cage thoracique, thorax

n. - bateau gonflable rigide

Deutsch (German)
n. - Rippe, Speiche, Schaft, (ugs.) Witz
v. - rippen, (ugs.) aufziehen

idioms:

• rib cage    Brustkorb

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ανατ.) πλευρά, πλευρό (κν. παϊδι), νεύρο (φύλλου), ράβδωση, ρυτίδωση (σε άμμο)
v. - εμπαίζω κοροϊδεύω, περιπαίζω, πειράζω, τσιγκλίζω

idioms:

• rib cage    (ανατ.) θωρακική κοιλότητα

Italiano (Italian)
costola, travetto, scanalatura, venatura

idioms:

• rib cage    cassa toracica

Português (Portuguese)
n. - costela (f), aresta (f)
v. - reforçar com vigas

idioms:

• rib cage    costelas (Anat.)

Русский (Russian)
ребро, фланец, рубчик, жилка (листа), дразнить, разыгрывать

idioms:

• rib cage    грудная клетка

Español (Spanish)
n. - costilla, nervio, nervadura, estría, vena
v. tr. - afianzar con pestañas o rebordes, reforzar con cuadernas o costillas, acanalar

idioms:

• rib cage    tórax, caja torácica

n. - tipo de bote inflable (Rigid Inflatable Boat)

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - revben, revbensspjäll, räffla, skämt
v. - räffla

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
肋骨, 肋状物

肋骨, 肋状物, 嘲弄, 取笑, 用肋状物支撑

idioms:

• rib cage    胸廓, 胸腔

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 肋骨, 肋狀物

n. - 肋骨, 肋狀物
v. tr. - 嘲弄, 取笑, 用肋狀物支撐

idioms:

• rib cage    胸廓, 胸腔

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 늑골, 엽맥, 갈빗대 모양의 것
v. tr. - ~에 늑골을 붙이다, 늑골로 두르다, ~에 이랑을 만들다

n. - (선체가 섬유유리로 된) 작은 보트

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 肋骨, 骨付きあばら肉, 畝, 肋材, 骨, うね, あぜ
v. - 肋材を付ける, 畝を立てる, からかう

idioms:

• rib cage    胸郭

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) ضلع, زوجه, نكته (فعل) يضلع, يسخر من‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮צלע, עורק-עלה, פס בולט (באריג), קנה-מטרייה, לוח-חיזוק (בסירה)‬
v. tr. - ‮התקין צלעות, חיזק בלוחות, סימן פסים, קנטר, לעג‬
n. - ‮סירה פתוחה קטנה עם גוף גוף פיברגלס וצלעות גומי מתנפחות‬

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