The sternocostal joints, also known as sternochondral joints or costosternal articulations, are
synovial plane joint
A plane joint (arthrodial joint, gliding joint, plane articulation) is a synovial joint which, under physiological conditions, allows only gliding movement.
Plane joints permit sliding movements in the plane of articular surfaces. The opposed sur ...
s of the
costal cartilage
The costal cartilages are bars of hyaline cartilage that serve to prolong the ribs forward and contribute to the elasticity of the walls of the thorax. Costal cartilage is only found at the anterior ends of the ribs, providing medial extension.
...
s of the
true ribs
The rib cage, as an enclosure that comprises the ribs, vertebral column and sternum in the thorax of most vertebrates, protects vital organs such as the heart, lungs and great vessels.
The sternum, together known as the thoracic cage, is a semi- ...
with the
sternum
The sternum or breastbone is a long flat bone located in the central part of the chest. It connects to the ribs via cartilage and forms the front of the rib cage, thus helping to protect the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels from injury. Sh ...
.
The only exception is the
first rib
The rib cage, as an enclosure that comprises the ribs, vertebral column and sternum in the thorax of most vertebrates, protects vital organs such as the heart, lungs and great vessels.
The sternum, together known as the thoracic cage, is a semi-r ...
, which has a
synchondrosis
A synchondrosis (or primary cartilaginous joint) is a type of cartilaginous joint where hyaline cartilage completely joins together two bones. Synchondroses are different than symphyses (secondary cartilaginous joints) which are formed of fibroc ...
joint since the
cartilage
Cartilage is a resilient and smooth type of connective tissue. In tetrapods, it covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints as articular cartilage, and is a structural component of many body parts including the rib cage, the neck an ...
is directly united with the sternum.
The sternocostal joints are important for
thoracic wall
The thoracic wall or chest wall is the boundary of the thoracic cavity.
Structure
The bony skeletal part of the thoracic wall is the rib cage, and the rest is made up of muscle, skin, and fasciae.
The chest wall has 10 layers, namely (from s ...
mobility.
The ligaments connecting them are:
*
Articular capsules
In anatomy, a joint capsule or articular capsule is an envelope surrounding a synovial joint.Interarticular sternocostal ligament
The Intraarticular sternocostal ligament is a horizontal fibrocartilaginous plate in the center of the second sternocostal joint. It connects the tip of the costal cartilage to the fibrous junction between the manubrium and the body of the sternu ...
*
Radiate sternocostal ligaments
The radiate sternocostal ligaments are fibrous bands that cross from the sternal end of the costal cartilage to the ventral part of the sternum
The sternum or breastbone is a long flat bone located in the central part of the chest. It connects ...
*
Costoxiphoid ligaments
The costoxiphoid ligaments (chondroxiphoid ligaments) are inconstant strand-like fibrous bands that connect the anterior and posterior surfaces of the seventh costal cartilage, and sometimes those of the sixth, to the front and back of the xiphoid ...
Clinical significance
Ankylosis
Ankylosis is a stiffness of a joint due to abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of the joint, which may be the result of injury or disease. The rigidity may be complete or partial and may be due to inflammation of the tendinous or muscular ...
,
joint stiffness
Joint stiffness may be either the symptom of pain on moving a joint, the symptom of loss of range of motion or the physical sign of reduced range of motion.
* Pain on movement is commonly caused by osteoarthritis, often in quite minor degrees, an ...
caused by
ossification
Ossification (also called osteogenesis or bone mineralization) in bone remodeling is the process of laying down new bone material by cells named osteoblasts. It is synonymous with bone tissue formation. There are two processes resulting in t ...
, may occur at the sternocostal joints.
See also
*
Costochondritis
Costochondritis, also known as chest wall pain syndrome or costosternal syndrome, is a benign inflammation of the upper costochondral (rib to cartilage) and sternocostal (cartilage to sternum) joints. 90% of patients are affected in multiple ri ...
References
External links
Joints
Thorax (human anatomy)
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