How many false ribs are present in the human body?

The correct answer is that there are three pairs of false ribs in the human body, which totals six ribs. False ribs are defined as the lower five pairs of ribs (ribs 8-12) that do not directly attach to the sternum but instead connect to the cartilage of the ribs above them.

More specifically, the first seven pairs of ribs are classified as true ribs because they have a direct connection to the sternum through their own costal cartilage. The next three pairs (the eighth, ninth, and tenth ribs) are known as false ribs as they do not have their own independent connections to the sternum.

The last two pairs of ribs, known as floating ribs (the eleventh and twelfth ribs), are also categorized as false ribs because they do not attach to the sternum at all. However, they are distinct in that they have no anterior attachment to the rib cage.

Understanding this categorization is important for anatomical and physiological context in relation to rib structure, respiratory mechanics, and the overall skeletal system.