Ans: In most vertebrates, the rib cage is an arrangement of ribs linked to the spinal column and sternum in the thorax that encloses and protects critical organs like the heart, lungs, and major vessels. The thoracic cage, which includes the rib cage and sternum, is a semi-rigid bony and cartilaginous structure that surrounds the thoracic cavity and supports the shoulder girdle to create the core section of the human skeleton.