Which ribs connect directly to the sternum?

• A. True ribs
• B. False ribs
• C. Floating ribs
• D. All ribs

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how ribs attach to the sternum through costal cartilage. The first seven pairs have their own costal cartilage that connects directly to the sternum, so they’re called true ribs. The remaining ribs don’t attach directly: ribs eight to ten connect to the cartilage of the rib above, and ribs eleven and twelve don’t attach to the sternum at all, making them floating ribs. So the ribs that connect directly to the sternum are the true ribs.