Head of rib

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Head of rib
A central rib of the left side. Inferior aspect. (Head visible at upper right.)
A central rib of the left side, viewed from behind. (Head visible at upper right.)
Latin caput costae
Gray's subject #28 124
Dorlands/Elsevier c_08/12211966

The head of the rib is the end of a rib closest to the vertebral column, with which it articulates with.

It is marked by a kidney-shaped articular surface, divided by a horizontal crest into two facets for articulation with the depression formed on the bodies of two adjacent thoracic vertebrae; the upper facet is the smaller; to the crest is attached the interarticular ligament.

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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.