Floating Rib: A floating rib refers to one of the last two ribs, which are termed "floating" because they do not connect to the sternum (breastbone) or to another rib. Typically, humans have 12 pairs of ribs. Each pair is attached at the back to the vertebrae, which are the spine's building blocks. The 12 pairs of ribs are categorized as follows:- True Ribs: The first seven pairs are called true ribs because they directly attach to the sternum at the front. - False Ribs: The remaining five pairs are known as false ribs because they do not have a direct connection to the sternum. The first three of these false ribs are linked to the costal cartilages of the ribs above them. In contrast, the last two false ribs lack any anterior attachment, earning them the names floating, fluctuating, or vertebral ribs.
