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Body of rib

The body of the rib (shaft of the rib) is the long, curved central portion of a typical rib extending between the rib tubercle posteriorly and the anterior end near the costal cartilage. It forms the main structural component of the thoracic cage and provides attachment for intercostal muscles and neurovascular bundles.

The rib body is a common focus in trauma imaging, chest wall evaluation, and cross-sectional imaging interpretation.

Synonyms

  • Shaft of rib

  • Costal body

Location

  • Forms the central curved portion of each typical rib

  • Extends anterolaterally from the tubercle toward the costal cartilage

  • Located within the thoracic wall

  • Lies between adjacent intercostal spaces

  • Follows an oblique downward and forward course from posterior to anterior

Anatomical components

  • External (outer) surface:

    • Smooth and convex

  • Internal (inner) surface:

    • Concave and faces the thoracic cavity

  • Superior border:

    • Rounded

  • Inferior border:

    • Sharp

    • Contains the costal groove

  • Costal groove contents:

    • Intercostal vein

    • Intercostal artery

    • Intercostal nerve

Relations

Externally:

  • Intercostal muscles

  • Thoracic wall soft tissues

Internally:

  • Parietal pleura

  • Lung surface (deep to pleura)

Superiorly:

  • Intercostal space above

Inferiorly:

  • Intercostal space below

  • Neurovascular bundle within the costal groove

X-ray appearance

Chest or rib radiographs:

  • Rib body: Curved linear radiopaque structure

  • Cortical margins: Smooth and continuous

  • Medullary cavity: Relatively radiolucent center

  • Costal groove: Not distinctly visualized

  • Overlap: Superimposition of ribs common on standard views

CT appearance

Bone window:

  • Cortex: Dense outer cortical bone with smooth margins

  • Medulla: Central cancellous bone of lower attenuation

  • Costal groove: Shallow indentation along inferior inner surface

  • Continuity: Clearly assessed along entire rib length

Lung window:

  • Rib body: Sharp high-contrast outline against aerated lung

  • Pleural interface: Well-defined relationship between rib and lung

  • Utility: Excellent for evaluating rib contour relative to lung parenchyma and pleura

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone: Very low signal (dark)

  • Marrow: High signal intensity due to fatty marrow

  • Costal groove: Subtle indentation along inferior aspect

T2-weighted images:

  • Cortex: Low signal

  • Marrow: Intermediate signal

  • Surrounding soft tissues: Higher signal than bone

STIR:

  • Cortical bone: Low signal

  • Marrow: Normally suppressed

  • Chest wall soft tissues: High signal relative to bone

CT image

Body of rib CT Anatomy, Location and Imaging Appearance -img-00000-00000

X-Ray image

Body of rib X ray Anatomy, Location and Imaging Appearance -img-00000-00000