What makes false ribs different from true ribs?

• A. False ribs do not articulate with the costal cartilage.
• B. The costal cartilage that connects to true ribs connects directly to the sternum.
• C. The true ribs articulate with the sternum, while false ribs do not.
• D. False ribs articulate with costal cartilage but are not connected to the sternum.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the basic anatomy of the rib cage: The human rib cage consists of 12 pairs of ribs, which are categorized into true ribs, false ribs, and floating ribs.
2. Define true ribs: True ribs are the first seven pairs of ribs. They are called 'true' because their costal cartilages directly articulate with the sternum.
3. Define false ribs: False ribs are the 8th, 9th, and 10th pairs of ribs. Unlike true ribs, their costal cartilages do not directly connect to the sternum. Instead, they connect to the cartilage of the rib above them.
4. Explain the articulation of false ribs: The costal cartilage of false ribs connects indirectly to the sternum through the cartilage of the 7th rib, which is a true rib.
5. Summarize the key difference: The main difference between true and false ribs is the direct versus indirect connection to the sternum. True ribs have a direct connection, while false ribs have an indirect connection through the cartilage of other ribs.