tubercle
Last reviewed 01/2018
The tubercle of a rib is a small protrusion of bone sited between the neck and shaft:
- less pronounced with descent down the rib cage
- in the anatomical position, sited posteroinferiorly
- 2 facets present upon its surface:
- medial facet:
- forms one surface of the costotransverse joint on each side
- covered by hyaline cartilage
- joint capsule and synovial membrane attached to its margin
- articulates with transverse process of corresponding vertebra
- lateral facet: attachment point for lateral costotransverse ligament