The rib cartilage (cartilago costalis)

Hyline cartilaginous connection of the ribs and sternum.

The rib cartilage constitutes the connection between the ribs (costae) and the breastbone (sternum). This is hyaline cartilage, which from an age of around 20 years gradually calcifies and later ossifies.

The calcification process is more pronounced in men than women. It reduces the mobility of the chest. The boundaries between cartilage and bone are frequently thicker and therefore easily palpable. They are located in a line about three fingers to the side of the joint between the breastbone and collarbone (articulatio sternoclavicularis). From here they run slanting upwards to the tip of the 11th rib.

In the free ribs (costae fluitantes), the rib cartilage is shorter and ends in small cartilage caps.