Question

The ribs articulate to the sternum through lengths of costal cartilage. this means much of the anterior side of the rib cage is cartilage. why do you think it is important that so much of the rib cage is made of cartilage and not bone? html editor keyboard shortcuts

Answer 1

Because it is flexible. Think about it; the ribs protect both the lungs and the heart. If the ribs were solid bone all the way around then unless you constantly break your ribs you wouldn't be able to expand the cheat to breath. Additionally your lungs would constrict the heart to a degree that it would function properly.