Floating rib
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Floating ribs (costae fluitantes) are four atypical ribs (two lowermost pairs, XI-XII) in the human ribcage. They are called so because they are attached to the vertebrae only, and not to the sternum or cartilage coming off of the sternum. Some people are missing one of the two pairs. Others have a third pair. Most, however, possess only two pairs, as mentioned previously.[citation needed]
Their position can be permanently altered by a form of body modification called tightlacing, which uses a corset to compress and move the ribs.
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Bones of torso |
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sternum: manubrium, body of sternum, xiphoid process, suprasternal notch
rib: first rib, tenth rib, eleventh rib, twelfth rib, floating rib, false ribs, angle, tubercle, costal groove, neck, head general vertebral structures: body of vertebra, vertebral arch (pedicle, lamina, vertebral notch), foramina (vertebral, intervertebral), processes (transverse, articular, spinous) cervical vertebrae: C1 (anterior arch, posterior arch, lateral mass), C2 (dens), C7, anterior tubercle, posterior tubercle, foramen transversarium thoracic vertebrae: costal facets (superior, inferior, transverse) lumbar vertebrae: accessory process, mammillary process sacrum/coccyx: pelvic surface (anterior sacral foramina, dorsal surface (posterior sacral foramina, median sacral crest, medial sacral crest, lateral sacral crest), lateral surface, base, sacral hiatus |