The rib cartilages
Costal cartilages · cartilagines costales
Bendy strips of cartilage linking the ribs to the breastbone so your chest can expand.
What it does
The costal cartilages join the front ends of the upper ten ribs to the breastbone, either directly or through each other. Because they are flexible rather than rigid, the ribcage can widen when you breathe in and spring back when you breathe out.
Surprising fact
Costal cartilage tends to turn partly into bone as people age, which makes the chest stiffer and is one reason older people breathe less deeply.
Why it matters
Sharp pain at the front of the chest that hurts when you press on it can come from inflamed rib cartilage, a harmless condition called costochondritis that is easily mistaken for heart trouble.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.