Dr.

Dalia El-wafaey
Associate professor of Anatomy & Embryology

sinaiuniversity.net
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 • Ribs P.3

• Sternum P.6

• Vertebrae P.7
INDEX

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info@su.edu.eg
www.su.edu.eg
Ribs:
• They are 12 pairs end anteriorly by costal cartilage
• space between ribs are called intercostal spaces
• They classified into:
A. According to features
1. Typical ribs: 3rd–9th.
2. Atypical ribs: 1st, 2nd, 10th, 11th, and 12th.
The typical ribs have same general features, whereas the
atypical ribs have special features
B. According to relation with the sternum
1. True ribs: 1st–7th (i.e., upper 7 ribs). articulate with the sternum
anteriorly
2. False ribs: 8th–12th (i.e., lower 5 ribs). do not articulate with the
sternum anteriorly.
C. According to articulation
1. Vertebrosternal ribs: 1st–7th.
2. Vertebrochondral ribs: 8th–10th.
3. Vertebral (floating) ribs: 11th and 12th.
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The parts of a rib include:
• Anterior end: cup-shaped and articulates with costal cartilage
• Shaft :
1- It is the longest part and extends between anterior and posterior ends.
2- It is flattened and has inner and outer surfaces & upper and lower
borders.
3- It bears a costal groove on its inner surface near the lower border.
4- Few centimeters away from tubercle, it abruptly changes its direction,
this is called angle of the rib.
• Posterior end: has head, neck and tubercle
1- The head of the rib: has superior and inferior costal facets on the
connecting vertebrae. They separated by crest.
2- The neck of the rib is a flattened part that extends laterally from the
head. It connects to transverse process of corresponding vertebrae by sup.
& inf . costotransverse ligament.
3-A tubercle of rib on the posterior surface of the neck of the rib, has two
(surfaces) one articulating with corresponding transverse process and one
non-articulating attached to corresponding transverse process by lateral
costotransverse ligament
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The first rib:
• is the most curved and usually the shortest of all the ribs
• it is broad and flat, it has upper and lower surfaces and its borders
inward and outward.
• a single articular facet on the head for articulation with the body of T1.
• The upper surface of the body shows a tubercle called scalene tubercle

Second Rib:
• Its length is twice that of the 1st rib.
• Its shaft is sharply/highly curved.
• Its shaft is not twisted; hence both the ends of rib touch the table top
when placed on it.

10th Rib: like typical with one facet on head

11th Rib &12th Rib:
1. They have single large, articular facet on its head.
2. It has no neck and no tubercle.
3. Anterior end is pointed.

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Sternum:
It resembles small sword and forms of 3 parts :
• Manubrium - most superior region that articulates
with clavicles and the first pair of ribs
• Body - articulates with 3rd - 7th ribs
• Xiphoid process - most inferior part
Joints of sternum:
Manubriosternal junction: b/w manubrium and body. it
forms sternal angle and it is the site of 2nd costal
cartilage
Xiph-sternal junction: b/w body and xiphoid process
and it is the site of 7th costal cartilage

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Lateral border clavicular
of sternum notch

Costal facet for

first rib

Costal facet
for 2nd rib

Costal facet for

3rd rib

Costal facet for

7th rib
Vertebral column
• Vertebral column is formed of a chain of
bones known as vertebrae
• separated by fibrocartilagenous discs
known as intervertebral discs
Vertebral column is formed of 33 vertebrae
and are arranged as follows: cervical
Cervical region C.7
Thoracic region T.12 thoracic
Lumbar region L.5
lumbar
Pelvic region S.5 &3~4 co.
sacrum
coccyx

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 The curves of Vertebral column
Cervical curve
Functions:
• Diminishes shocks might be applied to the column.
• Allowing for bending without breaking Thoracic curve

Abnormal curvatures of the vertebral column:

kyphosis : Lumbar curve
(an excessive posterior curvature of the thoracic
region).
Pelvic curve
Lordosis:
(an excessive anterior curvature of the lumbar
region).
Scoliosis: (an abnormal, lateral curvature,
accompanied by twisting of the vertebral column).

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 General features of a vertebra
Vertebral body
Title Goes Heresup. articular process
pedicle

transverse Superior
process view

Vertebral
lamina
arch
Vertebral Spinous
foramen process
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 Cervical vertebrae
Body Small ,kidney shaped as it is
broader from side to side than
from before backwards.
vertebral foramen triangular and larger than the
body.
Transverse Small and pierced by Foramen
processes transversarium.
Spine Short and bifid.
Typicality Typical:3rd to 6th
Atypical: 1st ,2nd & 7th
Photo
Thoracic vertebrae Lumbar vertebrae
Heart shaped, Its transverse & massive , kidney shape & Its
anteroposterior diameter are transverse diameter is more than the
almost equal. anteroposterior
Presence of articular facets on diameter.
each side of the body
circular. triangular in shape.
Presence of articular facets on it thin and tapering.
for articulation with the ribs.
long, slender, and directed quadrilateral in shape & It projects
downwards almost backward
Typical: 2nd to 8th Typical: 1st to 4th
Atypical: 1st, 9th to 12th Atypical: 5th
 Vertebral column
Foramen
transversarium

Cervical

Costal facets
Spine “short, bifid”

Thoracic

Spine “long pointed”

Lumbar
Spine “short,
quadrilateral”

Sacrum

Coccyx

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 The ligaments of Vertebral column
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament:
on the front surface of the bodies of the vertebrae
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament:
along the posterior (or back) surface of the vertebral bodies
Intertransverse Ligaments
attach to the adjacent transverse process of each vertebra
Ligamentum Flavum:
yellowish, elastic ligament connects to the laminae of the vertebrae
above and below
Interspinous Ligaments:
between the spinous process of each vertebrae
Supraspinous Ligament
attaches upon the tip of the spinous process of vertebrae C7 to the
sacrum. It continues from C7 to the external occipital protuberance
as the “nuchal ligament.”

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THANK YOU

For any questions feel free

to contact me by mail
Dalia.elwafaey@su.edu.eg

Dr. Dalia El-wafaey

Lecturer of Anatomy & Embryology

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