human body has how many ribs
Picture of the ribcage The ribcage, also called the thoracic cage, is a bony structure made up of the rib bones and their connective tissues. The ribcage forms part of the bodyâs respiratory system. It enables expansion of the chest cavity so that the lungs can expand and breathe in oxygen. The ribcage also encloses the thoracic cavity and helps protect the heart and lungs from damage. There are 24 ribs in the human body, divided into two sets of 12 curved, flat bones. Each one is attached by cartilage at the back to the thoracic vertebrae. The first upper seven ribs are known as 'true ribs' and are directly attached by cartilage to a long flat bone at the centre of the chest called the sternum (breastbone).