Where the second rib sits in the skeleton
The second rib is the 2nd of the twelve pairs of ribs forming the rib cage. Its back end articulates with the thoracic vertebrae. It is a true rib: its front end joins the sternum directly through its own costal cartilage. The ribs surround the heart and lungs and move with breathing. It is thinner and longer than the first rib, and the serratus anterior attaches to a roughened area in the middle of its outer surface. Its costal cartilage joins the sternum at the sternal angle.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the skeleton is the second rib in?
The second rib is one of the bones of the rib cage. Twelve pairs of ribs form the rib cage around the heart and lungs.
How many ribs are there?
There are twelve pairs of ribs, 24 in all. Ribs 1 to 7 are true ribs, ribs 8 to 10 are false ribs, and ribs 11 and 12 are floating ribs.
What lies above and below the 2nd rib?
The 1st rib lies above it and the 3rd rib below. At the back it articulates with the thoracic vertebrae.
Why is counting ribs from the front started at the second rib?
The first rib is hidden behind the clavicle, while the second costal cartilage joins the sternum right beside the sternal angle, the ridge you can feel near the top of the sternum.
Other ribs
- First rib
- Third rib
- Fourth rib
- Fifth rib
- Sixth rib
- Seventh rib
- Eighth rib
- Ninth rib
- Tenth rib
- Eleventh rib
- Twelfth rib
Joints of the second rib
Compare with similar bones
Bone counts
By region
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