How Many Ribs Do Men Have?

Are you assuming that male and female primates have different numbers of ribs? This is a frequently asked question, along with ‘How many ribs do men have?’ by first-year medical students.

It’s a common question, not only in anatomy classes but also among non-medical people: How many ribs do men have, and is it the same for both men and women?

The ribs are a group of long, flat, curved bones that make up the thorax’s protective cage (chest). The human rib cage comprises 12 pairs of rib bones that articulate with the spinal column posteriorly and end as cartilage anteriorly. During breathing, the tiny joints between the ribs and the vertebrae allow the ribs to glide across the vertebrae. They partially enclose and protect the chest cavity, which houses many critical organs such as the heart and lungs.

It is reasonable to understand the skeletal anatomy of men. let’s drive into the topic ” how many ribs do men have”? There are 12 pairs of ribs in both men and women (a few individuals have 13 or 11 pairs). The belief that males have fewer ribs than women is common, but incorrect, and may stem from the biblical tale of Eve being created from one of Adam’s ribs.

The rib cage protects the essential organs within the rib cage. To mark the query ‘How many ribs do men have?- Both males and females have the same number of ribs i.e. 12 pairs. Surely a Creator could replace Adam’s rib once he’d established that Eve would walk alongside him, not above or below him, but as his flesh and helpmate. Cervical ribs are more abundant in females than males, according to researchers, despite their rarity in the general population.

The rib anatomy and how many ribs men have?

It’s a common misconception that both men and women have different ribs. How many ribs do men have? The answer is the same as the women have which is 12 pairs.

The anatomical components of the ribs are usually:

• It has a wedge-like form to it. It has two articular facets that are separated by a bone wedge. The numerically equivalent vertebrae articulate with one facet, whereas the vertebrae above articulate with the other.
• The neck has no bony prominences and only links the head to the body. A roughed tubercle with a facet articulates with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebrae at the point where the neck meets the body.
• The rib’s body, or shaft, is flat and curved. The inside surfaces of the shaft feature a groove that protects a bundle of nerves and blood arteries that supply the thorax from harm.

Most ribs with these components are standard ribs. Atypical ribs are those that lack these characteristics.

• The first rib (wide and short, has two costal grooves and one articular facet)
• Rib number two (thin, long, and has a tuberosity on its superior surface for the attachment of the serratus anterior muscle)
• Rib number ten (only one articular facet)
• 11th and 12th ribs (one articular facet with no neck)

The ribs are divided into three groups based on their relationship to the sternum:

• True ribs: From the first to the seventh rib, their costal cartilages directly articulate with the sternum. The sternocostal joints connect them to the sternum. The first rib is an exception because the costoclavicular joint allows it to articulate with the clavicle uniquely.
• False ribs (8, 9, and 10): These articulate with the sternum indirectly through the costochondral joint, which connects their costal cartilages to the seventh costal cartilage.
• The sternum does not articulate with the floating ribs (11 and 12). (distal two ribs).

Typical and atypical rib structures

In our explanation of the anatomy of “how many ribs do men have?” it is also very important to understand the details structures of typical and a typical ribs which are explained below:

The head, neck, and body of a typical rib are:

• A wedge of bone separates two articular facets in the wedge-shaped head. The numerically equivalent vertebrae articulate with one facet, whereas the vertebrae above articulate with the other.
• The neck has no bony prominences and merely links the head to the rest of the body. A roughed tubercle with a facet for articulation with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebrae exists where the neck meets the body.
• The rib’s body, or shaft, is flat and curved. The shaft’s inside surface features a groove for the thoracic neurovascular supply, which protects the veins and nerves from harm.

Ribs 1, 2, 10, 11, and 12 are considered ‘atypical,’ as they have characteristics that are not found in all ribs.

• Rib 1 is the shortest and widest of the ribs. Because there is no thoracic vertebra above it, it only has one facet on its head for articulation with its corresponding vertebrae. Two grooves run across the superior surface, allowing the subclavian vessels to pass through.

• Rib 2 is shorter and thinner than rib 1, with the same two articular facets on the head. The serratus anterior muscle originates from a roughened region on its upper side.
• Rib 10 has only one facet, which is used for articulation with the vertebrae that correspond to it numerically.
• Ribs 11 and 12 have no necks and only one facet for articulation with the vertebrae they correspond to.

What role do the ribs play in the body?

To clarify the question of how many ribs men have, it’s important to understand the role of ribs in the body.

• The contents of the thoracic cavity and mediastinum are in protection.
• To make breathing easier, move superiorly (up), inferiorly (down), anterior (front), and posterior (back). As the ribs move, the thoracic cavity expands or contracts, assisting the lungs in breathing. The diaphragm, external intercostals, and the intercartilaginous part of the internal intercostals are the muscles that control these motions.
• Providing a point of origin or attachment for some muscles.
• During development, when the infant is still inside the uterus, it plays a function in erythropoiesis (red blood cell synthesis).

The rib ligaments

Along with the question of how many ribs do men have, we frequently receive the same query about how many ribs do women have. The simple and easy answer is that both men and women have the same number of ribs. Let’s explore the details of rib ligaments after understanding the number of ribs in both men and women.

The costotransverse ligament is the main ligamentous attachment to the ribs; it is a rather complex ligament made up of three components. ‘The’ costotransverse ligament is the initial portion, and it bridges the gap between the rib and the corresponding transverse process.

The lateral costotransverse ligament connects the transverse process of the spine to the rib, just distal to the tubercle, and is the next set of fibers. The superior costotransverse ligament, a two-layered ligament with fibers oriented at right angles, is the last component. This connects the superior border of the rib’s neck to the above vertebra’s transverse process.

The external intercostal muscles are the most superficial in the area, with eleven pairs. They run from the costal grooves’ lateral edge to the ribs’ superior margins below. From the tubercles to the costal cartilages of the ribs, the fibers of this muscle run anteroinferior obliquely around the thoracic wall. These muscles help lift the ribcage during inspiration.

The internal intercostal muscles are behind the external intercostals and are made up of eleven pairs. These run from the coastal groove’s inferior edge to the ribs’ superior margins below. These muscle fibers extend in a posteroinferior orientation before returning to an oblique path. Only from the parasternal area to the angle of the ribs are these muscles present. To force expiration, they depress the ribs.

We mostly see them in the lateral thoracic wall and extend from the medial border of the costal groove to the medial surface of the rib below. The neurovascular bundles flow through the opening between the internal and innermost intercostal muscle layers, which makes these muscles unique. In forced expiration, these muscles help to depress the ribs.

After learning about rib ligaments, it’s important to understand female muscle anatomy.

Summary

The 12 pairs of ribs, 24 in total, play an important role in protecting the vital organs of the body and also help in respiration. Most people are born with 12 pairs of ribs, but there can be anatomical abnormalities as well.
We, the MakeMyHealthWell team, believe that our article, ‘How Many Ribs Do Men Have,’ is very useful to our readers. We clarify all doubts and address the misconception that men and women have a different number of ribs, confirming that both have 12 pairs.

However, some people are born with congenital defects involving a different number of ribs. These defects rarely affect a person’s health.

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