Rib bone anatomy quiz for students taking anatomy and physiology!
In this rib bones anatomy quiz, you can test your knowledge of the ribs. The ribs protect vital organs within the thoracic cage, and they also assist with breathing. In most undergraduate anatomy courses, you will need to understand the key landmarks on a typical rib bone, as well as general information about the ribs and the thoracic cage.
Prior to taking this ribs anatomy quiz, you might want to review our ribs anatomy notes, or watch our ribs anatomy video. Also, don’t forget to check out more anatomy and physiology quizzes.
Rib Bones Anatomy Quiz
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Rib Bone Anatomy Quiz
1. The individual rib in the illustration above is a typical rib, which includes ribs 3-9. Identify figure 1.
A. Head
B. Neck
C. Tubercle
D. Body (shaft)
The answer is D, body, also called the shaft.
2. What is figure 2 depicting in the illustration above?
A. Head
B. Costal groove
C. Tubercle
D. Body (shaft)
The answer is B, the costal groove. This groove allows for the passage of intercostal nerves and vessels, and it also gives the inferior (bottom) border of the rib a sharper feel.
3. What is figure 3 depicting in the illustration above?
A. Tubercle
B. Costal angle
C. Neck
D. Head
The answer is B, costal angle, also called the angle of the rib. This sharp angle is toward the posterior end of the rib.
4. What is depicted in figure 4 of the illustration above?
A. Neck
B. Tubercle
C. Head
D. Costal angle
The answer is B, tubercle. The tubercle of the typical rib contains two parts. The articular part of the tubercle articulates with the transverse process of the inferior vertebra, and the non-articular portion allows for the attachment of the ligament of the tubercle.
5. What is depicted in figure 5 of the illustration above?
A. Neck
B. Head
C. Costal groove
D. Tubercle
The answer is B, head. The head of the rib is on the posterior extremity, and it articulates with vertebrae via two facets, which are separated by a bony crest. The neck attaches the head to the shaft.
6. How many individual ribs are there in the average human skeleton?
A. 24
B. 22
C. 20
D. 12
The answer is A, 24. There are 24 individual ribs, which come in 12 pairs.
7. The ribs are part of the appendicular skeleton.
A. True
B. False
The answer is B, false. The ribs are located within the axial skeleton.
8. Ribs 1-7 articulate with the sternum and are called what?
A. False ribs
B. True ribs
C. Floating ribs
D. Baby back ribs
The answer is B, true ribs. The true ribs include ribs 1-7, and they are also called vertebrosternal ribs due to their articulation with the vertebrae and sternum.
9. Ribs 8-12 are called which of the following?
A. True ribs
B. False ribs
C. Floating ribs
D. Pork ribs
The answer is B, false ribs. False ribs include ribs 8-12, and false ribs 8-10 are also called vertebrochondral ribs due to their articulation with the vertebrae and costal cartilage of the preceding rib.
10. Ribs 11-12 are called which of the following?
A. True ribs
B. False ribs
C. Floating ribs
D. Incomplete ribs
The answer is C, floating ribs. Floating ribs are a unique type of false ribs because, unlike false ribs 8-10, they do not attach to costal cartilage on their anterior extremity, and instead, they simply lie within muscle and tissue. Anatomists also call the floating ribs vertebral ribs.
11. Anatomists classify the ribs as long bones.
A. True
B. False
The answer is B, false. Although the ribs do look like other long bones, anatomists classify them as flat bones.
12. Which of the following statements are true about the intercostal space?
A. Intercostal spaces are numbered after the ribs immediately above them.
B. Intercostal spaces are filled with intercostal muscles, nerves, veins, and arteries.
C. There are 11 intercostal spaces.
D. All of the above
The answer is D, all of the above statements are true about the intercostal spaces. Identifying the intercostal spaces is an important skill that nurses should know when performing assessments such as heart and lung sounds.
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