Noun
/fɔːls rɪb/
A "false rib" refers to one of the lower ribs in the human body that does not directly attach to the sternum. Specifically, false ribs are typically the 8th to the 12th pairs of ribs. They are called "false" because they are not directly connected to the breastbone (sternum) like true ribs. False ribs are instead connected to the costal cartilage of the rib above.
The term "false rib" is primarily used in medical or anatomical contexts. It is more common in written contexts, such as textbooks, medical literature, and descriptions of anatomy, rather than in everyday spoken language.
"The doctor explained that the false ribs do not attach directly to the sternum."
"El doctor explicó que las costillas falsas no se conectan directamente al esternón."
"In anatomy class, we learned to identify both true and false ribs."
"En la clase de anatomía, aprendimos a identificar tanto las costillas verdaderas como las falsas."
"An injury to the false ribs can cause significant pain despite their lack of direct attachment to the sternum."
"Una lesión en las costillas falsas puede causar un dolor significativo a pesar de su falta de conexión directa con el esternón."
While "false rib" is not commonly found in idiomatic expressions, there are relevant expressions related to ribs in general or the idea of being false or insincere that could incorporate "false." Here are a few sentences with idiomatic connotations involving ribs:
"You could say that he's trying to pull the wool over our eyes, just like a false rib doesn't hold anything."
"Podrías decir que está tratando de engañarnos, así como una costilla falsa no sostiene nada."
"Her smile was as false as a rib without a proper connection."
"Su sonrisa era tan falsa como una costilla sin una conexión adecuada."
"Don’t let his false promises lead you into a trap like a false rib misguides the body."
"No dejes que sus falsas promesas te lleven a una trampa como una costilla falsa engaña al cuerpo."
The term "false rib" originates from the Latin word "costae" meaning ribs. The differentiation into "true" and "false ribs" dates back to anatomical studies of the human body, where "true ribs" (first seven pairs) were recognized for their direct connection to the sternum, whereas the remaining ribs lacked this direct connection and were categorized as "false."