Most people are born with 12 ribs on each side of the body, making a total of 24 ribs. Although there is a biblical myth about ribs, this number is the same for both men and women.
This biblical rib myth is often attributed to the story of the creation of Eve from a rib of Adam. One of the first Western scholars to challenge this idea was Andreas Vesalius, in his 1543 book De humani corporis fabrica libri septem (On the Structure of the Human Body in Seven Books).
The ribs are crescent-shaped bones that protect the vital organs in the chest and allow the lungs to expand to facilitate breathing. The first seven sets of ribs, known as “true ribs”, are attached directly to the sternum by cartilage. The next five sets are known as “false ribs”; three of them have a common cartilage connection with the sternum. The other two are known as “floating ribs” because they are not attached to the sternum, but only to the spine. A small percentage of the population has fewer or more than 24 ribs, for various reasons, notes IFL Science.
Despite a biblical myth about ribs, most people have the same number
One such reason is cervical rib syndrome, where an extra rib arises from a vertebra in the neck area. In some people, this rib appears only on one side of the lower neck, and in others it can be present on both sides.
This condition usually does not cause problems, but the rib can be surgically removed if it causes discomfort or complications. The most important complication is chest compression syndrome, in which nerves or blood vessels are compressed by the extra rib.
It is estimated that between 0.5 and 1% of people have cervical ribs. The condition is genetic and is thought to be caused by mutations in the Hox genes, a group of regulatory genes that determine where certain body parts, such as limbs or organs, form during embryonic development.
Cervical ribs also occur in certain animals. Studies have shown that a surprisingly high percentage of woolly mammoths had cervical ribs.
Some people remove their ribs for aesthetic reasons
There are other genetic conditions that can influence the number of ribs, such as spondylocostal dysplasia, spondylothoracic dysplasia, and Goldenhar syndrome. Some cases show that people with Down syndrome may occasionally have fewer ribs.
Some people choose to surgically remove certain ribs for aesthetic reasons to achieve a more defined waist. However, this is a dangerous procedure with a high risk of complications.
We recommend you also read:
Why should children be encouraged to play with mud?
Study: Human sense of smell is faster than previously thought
Why do we like carbohydrates? Origins predate agriculture and perhaps even our split from Neanderthals
Men and women process pain differently, study shows
Source: www.descopera.ro
