CorpusHuman Anatomy
SkeletalJoint

Costovertebral joints

Articulationes costovertebrales

Also known as: costotransverse joint, joint of head of rib, sternocostal joints

Plane synovial joints linking each rib to the thoracic vertebral column: the joint of the head of the rib (with the vertebral bodies and disc) and the costotransverse joint (rib tubercle with the transverse process).

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Overview

Joints of the heads of the ribs: the head of a typical rib articulates with the superior costal demifacet of its own vertebra, the inferior demifacet of the vertebra above and the intervening disc. The intra-articular ligament joins the crest of the head to the disc, dividing the joint into two synovial cavities; the fan-shaped radiate ligament reinforces it anteriorly. Ribs 1, 10, 11 and 12 articulate with a single vertebra and have a single cavity.

Costotransverse joints: the articular facet of the rib tubercle articulates with the costal facet on the transverse process of the same vertebra (ribs 1–10). They are strengthened by the costotransverse, lateral costotransverse and superior costotransverse ligaments. Ribs 11 and 12 have no costotransverse joint.

These joints allow the rib to rotate about an axis through its neck. In the upper ribs (2–6) the axis is near the coronal plane, so rotation elevates the anterior end and sternum — the pump-handle movement increasing the anteroposterior diameter. In the lower ribs (7–10) the axis is more sagittal, so the lateral shaft swings upward and outward — the bucket-handle movement increasing the transverse diameter.

Location

Posterior thoracic wall, between ribs and thoracic vertebrae.

Parts & subdivisions

  1. Joint of the head of the rib
    Head ↔ two vertebral bodies and the disc; radiate and intra-articular ligaments.
  2. Costotransverse joint
    Tubercle ↔ transverse process (ribs 1–10); costotransverse ligaments.
  3. Sternocostal joints
    Anteriorly: 1st costal cartilage synchondrosis, 2nd–7th small synovial plane joints.

Anatomy

Ligaments

Radiate, intra-articular, costotransverse, lateral and superior costotransverse ligaments.

Function

  • Anchor the ribs to the vertebral column
  • Allow rib rotation for pump-handle and bucket-handle breathing movements

Clinical significance

Ankylosing spondylitis and chest expansion

Fusion of the costovertebral joints in ankylosing spondylitis restricts chest expansion (< 2.5 cm at the 4th intercostal space), producing a restrictive ventilatory defect and diaphragmatic breathing.

Compiled from standard anatomy and physiology references — see the Skeletal System sources. For education only; not medical advice.