Shaft
The shaft of a rib is the longest section:
- begins at neck passing inferolaterally and obliquely
- passes inferomedially from angle to distal anterior end
- elongated, blade-like
- concave surface facing inwards to the thoracic cavity in contact with parietal pleura
- convex external surface:
- relatively superficial under skin from angle projecting anteriorly
- serratus anterior attached to superior margin in superior 8 ribs
- superior margin:
- rounded and relatively broad
- external intercostal muscle attached laterally
- more deeply, internal intercostal muscle attached from sternal end to angle
- as a continuation, internal intercostal membrane attached from angle to tubercle
- subcostal muscles attached in deeper plane
- inferior margin is thinner and runs to a sharp edge:
- external intercostal muscle attached to outer surface of margin
- internal intercostal muscle attached more deeply from subcostal groove progressing anteriorly
- internal intercostal membrane attached from angle to tubercle
- internal surface near to inferior margin houses costal groove which tapers out to a rounded, smooth edge with no recess upon reaching the anterior third of the rib
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