Thorax Anatomy
Thorax Anatomy
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Image by Anatomy Standard, cropped from the original, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
The thorax is the part of the body between the neck and the stomach (abdomen). It contains important organs like the heart and lungs.
The bones of the thorax can be split into 3 main groups:
the ribcage
the sternum
the thoracic spine
The ribcage
The ribcage
The ribcage is made up of 12 pairs of ribs. These ribs protect the organs inside the chest and help with breathing. Each rib connects at the back to the spine and at the front to cartilage. Ribs are either typical or atypical. Typical ribs have three main parts: a head, neck, and body. Atypical ribs (like ribs 1, 2, 10, and 12) look different. For example, rib 1 is much shorter than the others.
The thoracic spine
The thoracic spine
The thoracic spine has 12 bones called vertebrae. These bones have heart-shaped bodies and are separated by soft discs. The thoracic spine is located below the neck part of the spine (cervical spine). One of its main jobs is to protect the organs in the chest, just like the ribs and sternum do.
Image by Anatomy Standard, cropped from the original, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
Image by Anatomy Standard, cropped from the original, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
The sternum
The sternum
The sternum, or breastbone, is a flat bone in the center of the chest. It has three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process. When we're young, these parts are connected by cartilage. As we grow older, the cartilage turns into bone, forming a solid T-shaped structure. The sternum connects to the ribs and helps protect the chest organs.
Need a recap? Take a look at the thorax anatomy notes here.
Need a recap? Take a look at the thorax anatomy notes here.
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References
Kudzinskas, A., & Callahan, A. L. (2023, July 30). Anatomy, thorax. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557710
Raits, J. S. K. (n.d.-e). Ribs, classification of ribs & costal topography. Anatomy Standard. https://www.anatomystandard.com/ossa-et-juncturae/thorax/costae.html
TeachMeAnatomy. (2020, June 18). Bones of the thorax. TeachMeAnatomy. https://teachmeanatomy.info/thorax/bones/
TeachMeAnatomy. (2025a, March 30). The ribs - rib cage - articulations - fracture. TeachMeAnatomy. https://teachmeanatomy.info/thorax/bones/ribcage/
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