Here is a picture of a torso. This was drawn in pencil. I ll explain about techniques later. There are twelve ribs on each side of the torso. You can NOT get rid of these ribs, with the exception of the lower two if you have them removed surgically.
Ribs are our friends.
There are seven pairs of ribs that are attatched to the sternum. They are called the true ribs. There are three pairs of ribs that have fused their cartilage to that of the bones above them. They are called false ribs. And there are two pair that are not connected to anything but the spine.