Anterior view

The costal cartilage of each rib is functionally important because it forms the attachment of the rib to the sternum while allowing for some flexibility of the thoracic wall.  For ribs 2 through 7 these joints are considered to be synovial (diarthrosis - free moving) joints while the articulation with rib one is considered to be an amphiarthrosis (cartilaginous) joint early in life.  It often becomes a synarthrosis in older people.  The costal cartilage is hyaline cartilage.

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