Anatomy of the Ribs and Scapula

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Questions and Answers

What are the five major regions of the vertebral column?

The five major regions of the vertebral column are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions.

How can you distinguish a lumbar vertebra from a cervical vertebra?

A lumbar vertebra is larger and heavier than a cervical vertebra, and it has a larger body and spinous process.

A false rib is a true rib and sternum.

False

Besides the ribs and sternum, there is a third group of bones forming the thoracic cage. What is it?

The third group of bones forming the thoracic cage is the sternum. Signup and view all the answers

What bone class do the ribs and skull bones fall into?

The ribs and skull bones belong to the flat bone class. Signup and view all the answers

Which spinal curvatures are present at birth?

The spinal curvatures present at birth are the primary curvatures—the thoracic and sacral curves. Signup and view all the answers

How does the shape of a newborn baby's spine differ from that of an adult?

A newborn baby's spine has a single, c-shaped curve. As the baby grows, the spine develops the four curvatures characteristic of the adult spine. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the clavicle?

The clavicle acts as a brace to hold the arm away from the top of the thorax and helps prevent shoulder dislocation. Signup and view all the answers

Why are scapulae called 'wings'?

Scapulae are called 'wings' because they flare when we move our arms posteriorly. Signup and view all the answers

What are the features of the scapula?

The scapula has a flattened body with three borders—superior, medial (vertebral), and lateral (axillary)—and three angles—superior, inferior, and lateral. It also has three important processes—the acromion, coracoid, and glenoid cavity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the glenoid cavity?

The glenoid cavity, a shallow socket that receives the head of the arm bone, is in the lateral angle (Figure 5.21d). Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the acromion?

The acromion, which is the enlarged lateral end of the spine of the scapula, and beaks like coracoid process. Signup and view all the answers

How does the scapula attach to the axial skeleton?

The scapula attaches to the axial skeleton at only one point—the sternoclavicular joint. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the loose attachment of the scapula?

The loose attachment of the scapula allows it to slide back and forth against the thorax muscles act. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the glenoid cavity shallow?

The glenoid cavity is shallow and the shoulder joint is poorly reinforced by ligaments. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the shoulder girdle very easily dislocated?

The shoulder girdle is very easily dislocated due to the exceptional flexibility of the shoulder joint. Signup and view all the answers

How does the shoulder girdle attach to the axial skeleton?

The shoulder girdle attaches to the axial skeleton at only one point—the sternoclavicular joint. Signup and view all the answers

What are the bones of the upper limb?

The bones of the upper limb include the arm, forearm, and hand. Signup and view all the answers

What bone forms the arm?

The arm is formed by a single bone, the humerus. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ribs

Twelve pairs of ribs form the bony thorax
Ribs articulate with the vertebral column
Ribs curve downward and toward the anterior body surface
First seven pairs (true ribs) attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilages
Next five pairs (false ribs) attach indirectly or not at all to the sternum
Last two pairs (floating ribs) lack sternal attachments

Intercostal Spaces

Spaces between ribs filled with intercostal muscles
Aid in breathing

Sternum

Important for rib attachment
Crucial for procedural safety

Scapula

Paired shoulder blades, often called "wings" due to flaring during arm movement
Triangular shape with superior, medial, and lateral borders
Glenoid cavity in the lateral angle; a shallow socket that receives the arm bone's head
Acromion (enlarged lateral end of the spine) and coracoid process connect to other bones/structures
Scapulae aren't directly attached to the axial skeleton, held loosely by trunk muscles.

Clavicle

Paired collarbones, slender, doubly curved
Attach to the sternum medially (sternal end)
Attach to the scapula laterally
Act as braces, preventing shoulder dislocation and maintaining arm position away from the thorax

Shoulder Girdle

Comprised of scapula and clavicle
The pectoral or shoulder girdle connects the limbs to the axial skeleton
Exceptional flexibility, easy dislocation

Upper Limb Bones

Thirty separate bones form the skeletal framework for the arm, forearm, and hand.
The arm is formed by a single bone, the humerus (typical long bone)

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Description

Explore the fascinating details of the rib cage and scapula in human anatomy. This quiz covers the structure, articulation, and function of ribs and their significance in the thoracic skeleton. Test your knowledge on the attachment points and related muscles as well.