The shape and support to the entire body is provided by the skeletal system. Different organs are protected by hard substances, known as bones. As bones are made up of calcium and other minerals, these are hard structures offering protection to the internal organs of the body. Not merely these give security, but bones offer the right figure to the human body as well as gives power. The main organs like heart and lungs are protected by the chest bones. Chest, the medical name for it is thorax, consists of twenty-five bones. The sternum and the ribs are the two main types of chest bones.
The Sternum
The sternum is T shaped, long and flat bone that is at the midst of the thorax, above the heart plus middle chest (mediastinum). It consists of three main parts. The Manubrium, the gladiolus and the xiphoid process form the three parts of sternum. The sternum provides support to the two sets of ribs and is located exactly in the middle of the chest. Whilst in the growth phase of sternum, it is split within 3 portions. These three portions are called sternebra. The sternum is about 17 centimetres in length.
Cartilage connects the ribs to the sternum. Sternum defends the highly crucial and sophisticated body organs including heart, lungs along with the blood vessels, from any type of outer or bodily damage. It is generally made up of vascular tissue. However, a really thin coating of the bone covers this vascular tissue. The thickest part of sternum is manubrium.
The Ribs
There are twenty four ribs in a human body. There are 12 ribs each on either side of the chest. The rib bones make a cage like design and so named as ribcage. The ribcage surrounds and protects the entire chest. The delicate and the most essential organs of the body as well as the blood vessels are protected by the ribcage. While inhaling and exhaling, the rib cage shrinks and increases with the pair of lungs that enables to breathe normally.
From the twelve ribs, seven are called "true ribs". These are labeled so, because these ribs are right away joined to sternum. The cartilage that connects the true ribs to the sternum is called coastal cartilage. It offers elasticity to the rib cage and of course assists in movement of the ribs. The other five ribs are known as false ribs and 3 ribs from these five are joined to sternum by cartilage. As the last two ribs are not connected to the sternum, these are called floating ribs. These floating ribs are 11th and twelfth ribs that are also named vertebral ribs.
The coastal cartilages often experience inflammation. These are partially flexible type. If there is some sort of disturbance in the chest, the coastal cartilage can be severely damaged. The scientific name for this severe condition like inflammation is called Costochondritis. It is really uncomfortable and the warning signs produce broken rib, lungs are affected or even an individual enduring this situation can have a serious heart stroke. If you feel pain in chest, you need to consult the doctor immediately so as to prevent major problem.
Author Resource:-
Know the importance of Chest bones and learn about Chest bone at learnbones.com
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