kostalcartilage
Costal cartilage, or kostal cartilage in some texts, refers to the hyaline cartilage bars that connect the anterior ends of the ribs to the sternum or to the cartilage of the rib above. Together they form the costal arches of the thoracic cage and contribute to the rib cage’s flexibility during breathing.
Anatomy and connections: Most ribs have costal cartilage that directly articulates with the sternum (ribs 1–7).
Development and aging: Costal cartilage originates from mesenchymal tissue in the thoracic wall during embryonic development.
Function: The costal cartilages lengthen the anterior rib cage and allow elastic deformation of the thoracic
Clinical significance and variation: Inflammation at the costochondral junction, known as costochondritis, or the related Tietze