Final answer:
The thoracic cage consists of twelve pairs of ribs and one sternum, which together protect the heart and lungs. The ribs are anchored to the thoracic vertebrae, with true ribs, false ribs, and floating ribs classifications, and are part of the thoracic curve of the vertebral column.
Step-by-step explanation:
The thoracic cage, commonly referred to as the rib cage, plays a crucial role in protecting the vital organs within the chest, specifically the heart and lungs. It consists of twelve pairs of ribs and one sternum.
Each rib pair is anchored to the thoracic vertebrae at the back. There are three classifications of ribs: true ribs (1-7), which connect directly to the sternum; false ribs (8-12), which are connected to the true ribs and only indirectly to the sternum via cartilage; and the last two pairs, known as floating ribs (11-12), are not connected to the sternum at all.
The thoracic curve refers to the anteriorly concave curvature of the thoracic vertebral column, which is a primary curve of the vertebral column.