Joints and Ligaments of the Thorax - Listed Alphabetically |
| Joint or ligament |
Description |
Notes |
| costal cartilage |
the cartilage that caps the medial end of the rib |
costal cartilages of ribs 1-7 connect to the sternum; costal cartilages of ribs 8-10 connect to the costal cartilage of rib 7; costal cartilages of ribs 11 & 12 do not articulate anteriorly but end in the muscles of the abdominal wall |
| radiate sternocostal ligaments |
ligaments that reinforce the sternocostal joint capsule |
these ligaments connect the costal cartilages of ribs 1-7 with the sternum on both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the sternocostal articulation |
| sternal angle |
the angle formed by the articulation between the manubrium and the body of the sternum |
a synchondrosis; the cartilage within this joint usually does not become ossified until old age; the angle formed by this articulation is also called the angle of Louis; the sternal angle marks the level of the second costal cartilage from which all other ribs are counted |
| sternocostal joints |
the articulations that connect the costal cartilages with the sternum |
a synchondrosis (rib 1) or synovial joints (ribs 2-10); sternocostal synovial joints involving ribs 2-7 contain thin joint capsules; interchondral joints involving ribs 8-10 have simple gliding synovial articulations; radiate sternocostal ligaments reinforce the sternocostal articulations |
| xiphisternal joint |
the articulation that connects the xiphoid process with the body of the sternum |
a synchondrosis; the cartilage within this joint usually becomes ossified in old age; the xiphisternal joint marks the inferior extent of the thoracic cavity |
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