ribbotten

Ribbotten is a Swedish term used in some anatomy texts to refer to the inferior border of a rib. In standard anatomical terminology, this feature is described as the inferior border of the rib, a curved edge on the rib’s lower margin. The inner surface along this border contains the costal groove, which houses the intercostal vessels and nerve as they run to supply the intercostal spaces. Because the intercostal neurovascular bundle lies along the bottom edge of each rib, the rib’s inferior border is an important landmark in clinical procedures and imaging.

Anatomically, each rib has a vertebral (posterior) end that articulates with the thoracic vertebrae and a sternal (anterior) end connected to cartilage. The inferior border does not form a joint but provides the anatomical corridor for the intercostal vessels and nerve. The contour of the border varies along the rib, and grasping or palpating this edge is common in physical examination, radiography, or surgical planning to identify fractures or displacement.

Clinical relevance includes fracture assessment, chest-tound structures, and procedures such as thoracostomy where accurate localization of the inferior border helps minimize injury to the intercostal vessels and nerve. While ribbotten may appear in Swedish-language resources, English-language anatomical texts prefer terms like “inferior border of the rib” or “costal groove” when describing this feature.