Question

Difference of fixed ribs and floating ribs for kids

Answer 1

True Ribs attach directly to the sternum.
False ribs attach through costal cartilage.
Floating ribs have no attachment to the sternum.

Explanation:

The first seven sets of ribs are considered true ribs as they have a direct attachment to the sternum.

The next three sets of ribs are considered false ribs as they are attached to the strum by costal cartilage links to the sternum.

The last two pairs of ribs are floating ribs because they are not attached to the sternum.

The floating ribs are less stable and risk breaking because they have only one attachment dorsally to the vertebrae and have very thin bone tissue locked in muscle as they extend laterally.

Answer 2

Answer:

Ribs are of three types

(i) True ribs:  

• The first seven pairs of ribs are called true ribs.
• They are dorsally attached to the thoracic vertebrae and are ventrally connected to the sternum with help of the hyaline cartilage.

(ii) False ribs:  

• The three pairs of ribs i.e., 8th, 9th and 10th do not directly articulate with the sternum rather it joins the cartilage of 7th pair of ribs and hence are called false ribs because ribs generally articulate with both thoracic vertebrae and sternum but these ribs do not articulate with the sternum directly.

(iii) Floating ribs:  

• The 11th and 12th pair of ribs are called floating ribs because one end of the rib is attached to the vertebral column and the other end is free.
• The floating ribs play an important role to protect the kidneys.