Final answer:
The false ribs, specifically ribs 8-10, also known as vertebrochondral ribs, indirectly affect changes in the volume of the rib cage by facilitating its expansion and contraction during breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vertebrae that indirectly effect changes in the volume of the rib cage are the false ribs, specifically vertebrochondral ribs 8-10. These false ribs do not attach directly to the sternum, but either attach indirectly to the sternum via the costal cartilage of the rib above or do not attach to the sternum at all. The 11th and 12th ribs, known as floating ribs, also do not attach to the sternum or to the costal cartilage of another rib. Nonetheless, it is the false ribs (8-10) that contribute to the changes in the volume of the thoracic cavity during breathing as they aid in the expansion and contraction of the lower part of the rib cage.
The ribs that indirectly affect changes in the volume of the rib cage are the false ribs. These are the last five pairs of ribs (8-12) that either attach indirectly to the sternum via the costal cartilage of the next higher rib or do not attach to the sternum at all.