Costelas

Costelas, or ribs, are long curved bones that make up part of the thoracic cage in most mammals, including humans. They protect the thoracic organs, assist with respiration, and serve as attachment points for muscles of the chest, back, and abdomen. The rib cage consists of 12 pairs of ribs connected to the thoracic vertebrae at the back and to the sternum at the front via costal cartilage. The first seven pairs are true ribs, attaching directly to the sternum; ribs 8–10 are false ribs, attaching indirectly through cartilage; ribs 11–12 are floating ribs, not connected to the sternum.

In humans, ribs vary in size and curvature. Costal cartilage provides flexibility during breathing. Most mammals have variations in the number of ribs; many species share the basic plan but have different counts. Congenital or acquired variations can include extra ribs (cervical or thoracic) or absent ribs. Fractures of the ribs are common injuries resulting from blunt trauma; they can cause pain and respiratory complications, especially in older adults. Imaging such as X-ray or CT is used for diagnosis.

Culinarily, costelas refers to cuts of meat from the rib area, including beef ribs (costela de boi) and pork ribs (costelas de porco). Dishes often involve slow cooking or barbecuing to tenderize the meat, with regional variations in seasoning and preparation.