282 



THE ARTICULATIONS, OR JOINTS 



VI. Articulations of the Ribs with the Vertebrae or the Costovertebral 

 Articulations (Articulationes Costovertebrales). 



The articulations of the ribs with the vertebral column may be divided into 

 two sets: (1) Those which connect the heads of the ribs with the bodies of the 

 vertebrae costocentral. (2) Those which connect the necks and tubercles of the 

 ribs with the transverse processes costotransverse. 



1. COSTOCENTRAL ARTICULATIONS (ARTICULATIONES CAPITULORUM) 



(Figs. 232 and 233). 



These constitute a series of arthrodial joints, formed by the articulation of the 

 heads of the ribs with the cavities on the contiguous margins of the bodies of the 



ARTICULAR 

 DISK 



FIG. 232. Vertebral column with ligament, from in front. (Spalteholz.) 



thoracic vertebrae and the intervertebral substance between them, except in the 

 case of the first, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth ribs, where the cavity is formed 

 by a single vertebra. The bones are connected by the following ligaments: 



Anterior Costovertebral or Stellate. 

 Capsular. Interarticular. 



The anterior Costovertebral or stellate ligament (ligamentum capituli costae 

 radiatuTn) (Figs. 232 and 235) connects the anterior part of the head of each 

 rib with the sides of the bodies of two vertebrae and the intervertebral disk 

 between them. It consists of three flat bundles of ligamentous fibres, which are 

 attached to the anterior part of the head of the rib, just beyond the articular 



