When you jump in the air or twist while using a hula hoop, these disks provide cushioning that your vertebrae need. Ready for the Ribs Your heart , lungs , and liver are all very important - and luckily, you've got ribs to keep them safe and protected. Ribs act like a cage of bones around your chest. It's easy to feel this cage by running your fingers along the sides and front of your body, a few inches below your heart. If you breathe in deeply, it's also easy to feel your ribs right in the front of your body.
Some kids are skinny enough that they can see a few of their ribs right through their skin.
Your ribs come in pairs, and the left and right sides of each pair are identical. All 12 pairs of ribs attach in the back to the spine, where they are held in place by the thoracic vertebrae. The very last two sets of ribs are called floating ribs, and because they aren't big enough to come all the way around to the front of the chest, they aren't connected to the sternum at all. You can feel your skull by pushing on your head, especially in the back, a few inches above your neck. The skull is actually made up of 30 different bones.