Costae

Arranged in pairs and articulate with two successive vertebrae
Bony dorsal part, body of rib, and ventral costal cartilage
Increase in length, curvature and amount of cartilage craniocaudally
Cartilage of last rib may fail to join that of its neighbor: said to be floating
Join ventrally on the midline at the Sternum, which is comprised of three parts
- Manubrium: most cranial, projects beyond the first set of ribs and can be palpated
- Body: segmented sternebrae joined by cartilage in young animals that is later replaced by bone
- Xiphoid Cartilage: caudal end that projects between lower ends of costal arches, providing attachment for the linea alba

Ribs and Sternum - Anatomy & Physiology