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Neck of rib

The neck of the rib is the short, flattened segment of a typical rib that connects the head of the rib to the tubercle. It lies posteriorly, adjacent to the vertebral column, and forms an important structural link between the rib and the thoracic spine.

The neck of the rib serves as a key anatomical landmark in thoracic anatomy and imaging, particularly in evaluation of paravertebral regions, costovertebral relationships, and posterior chest wall assessment.

Synonyms

  • Rib neck

  • Cervical portion of the rib (descriptive, nonstandard)

Location

  • Situated between the head and tubercle of a rib

  • Located posteriorly near the thoracic vertebral column

  • Anterior to the transverse process of the corresponding vertebra

  • Posterolateral to the vertebral body

  • Forms part of the posterior chest wall

Anatomical components

  • Short flattened bony segment

  • Anterior surface:

    • Smooth

  • Posterior surface:

    • Rough for ligamentous attachments

  • Superior border:

    • Provides attachment to the superior costotransverse ligament

  • Inferior border:

    • Related to paravertebral soft tissues

Relations

Anteriorly:

  • Parietal pleura

  • Lung apex (upper ribs)

Posteriorly:

  • Costotransverse ligaments

  • Deep paraspinal muscles

Medially:

  • Head of the rib

  • Vertebral body and intervertebral disc

Laterally:

  • Tubercle of the rib

  • Costotransverse joint

Superiorly:

  • Transverse process of the corresponding vertebra

Inferiorly:

  • Intercostal space and soft tissues

X-ray appearance

Chest or rib radiographs:

  • Neck of rib: Seen as a short bony segment between the rib head and tubercle

  • Visualization: Best appreciated on oblique or posterior views

  • Contour: Smooth cortical margins

  • Symmetry: Bilateral symmetry across corresponding ribs

CT appearance

Bone window:

  • Neck of rib: Dense cortical bone with central cancellous marrow

  • Margins: Well-defined, continuous cortex

  • Junctions: Clear articulation with rib head and tubercle

Lung window:

  • Silhouette: Thin curvilinear bony density adjacent to aerated lung

  • Pleural relationship: Clearly separated from lung parenchyma

  • Utility: Helpful for assessing posterior rib contour against aerated lung background

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone: Very low signal (dark)

  • Marrow within rib neck: Intermediate to high signal intensity

  • Adjacent muscles and fat: Well differentiated

T2-weighted images:

  • Cortex: Low signal

  • Marrow: Intermediate signal

  • Adjacent soft tissues: Higher signal intensity

STIR:

  • Bone marrow: Suppressed fat signal with intermediate baseline signal

  • Cortex: Persistently low signal

  • Paravertebral soft tissues: High signal relative to bone

CT image

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

X-Ray image

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