FLOATING RIBS Meaning and
Definition
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Floating ribs, also known as vertebral ribs or false ribs, refer to a specific set of anatomical structures found in the human skeletal system. They are called "floating" because they do not directly connect to the sternum (breastbone) like the other ribs, but instead attach to the vertebrae in the back.
Floating ribs are the lowest two pairs of ribs in the ribcage. There are a total of twelve pairs of ribs, with the first seven pairs referred to as "true ribs" since they connect to both the vertebral column and the sternum. Beyond this point, the eighth, ninth, tenth, and sometimes eleventh pairs of ribs are called floating ribs since they only connect to the vertebral column.
Unlike the true ribs, floating ribs do not have a direct attachment to the sternum. Instead, their anterior ends are free, usually ending in the abdominal muscles or floating in the abdominal cavity without any attachment. This lack of attachment to the sternum allows these ribs to have more flexibility, although their mobility is still somewhat restricted due to the attachments to the vertebral column.
The function of floating ribs is often debated among anatomists and researchers. While they may provide some protection to the organs in the abdominal cavity, their main purpose is thought to be supporting and stabilizing the muscles of the back and abdomen, assisting in breathing movements and expanding the thoracic cavity during inspiration.
In summary, floating ribs are the two lowest pairs of ribs in the human ribcage, which do not connect directly to the sternum like the other ribs. Instead, they attach to the vertebrae in the back and are believed to assist in the support and stabilization of the musculature of the back and abdomen.
Common Misspellings for FLOATING RIBS
- dloating ribs
- cloating ribs
- vloating ribs
- gloating ribs
- tloating ribs
- rloating ribs
- fkoating ribs
- fpoating ribs
- fooating ribs
- fliating ribs
- flkating ribs
- fllating ribs
- flpating ribs
- fl0ating ribs
- fl9ating ribs
- flozting ribs
- flosting ribs
- flowting ribs
- floqting ribs
- floaring ribs
Etymology of FLOATING RIBS
The term "floating ribs" refers to the eleventh and twelfth pairs of ribs, which are not directly attached to the sternum or breastbone. The etymology of the term is as follows:
- "Float" comes from the Old English word "flocian", meaning "to float" or "to swim". It is related to the Old Norse word "flota" meaning "to float" as well. The idea behind using the word "float" here is that these ribs appear to float or be suspended rather than firmly attached.
- "Ribs" comes from the Old English word "ribb" or "rib", with its roots traced back to the Old Norse word "ribja" and the Germanic word "rebwo". The term refers to the long curved bones that form the structural framework of the chest or thorax.
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