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Joints and Ligaments of the Thorax - Listed Alphabetically |
| Joint or ligament |
Description |
Notes |
costal cartilage
see image |
a bar of hyaline cartilage that attaches a rib to the sternum in the case of true ribs, or to the rib immediately above in the case of the upper false ribs. |
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
see image |
fibrous bands that cross from the sternal end of the costal cartilage to the ventral part of the sternum. |
these ligaments connect the costal cartilages of ribs 1-7 with the sternum on both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the sternocostal articulation |
angle of sternum
see image |
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
see image |
the articulations that connect the costal cartilages with the sternum. |
the sternocotal joints are arthrodial joints, with the exception of the first, in which the cartilage is directly united with the sternum, and which is, therefore, a synarthrodial articulation. |
xiphisternal joint
see image |
located near the bottom of the sternum, this articulation connects the xiphoid process with the body of the sternum. |
It is in line with the T9 vertebrae; it is a synchondrosis; the cartilage within this joint usually becomes ossified in old age; the xiphisternal joint marks the inferior extent of the thoracic cavity |
