The number of floating ribs in human body is

Options

A. 6 pairs
B. 5 pairs
C. 3 pairs
D. 2 pairs

Explanation

To determine the number of floating ribs in the human body, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Structure of the Rib Cage**:
- The human rib cage consists of 12 pairs of ribs.

2. **Classify the Ribs**:
- The ribs are categorized into three types:
- **True Ribs**: The first 7 pairs (1st to 7th) are called true ribs because they are directly attached to the sternum (breastbone) via costal cartilages.
- **False Ribs**: The 8th, 9th, and 10th pairs are known as false ribs. They are not directly attached to the sternum but are connected to the 7th rib.
- **Floating Ribs**: The last two pairs, which are the 11th and 12th pairs, are referred to as floating ribs.

3. **Identify the Floating Ribs**:
- Floating ribs are unique because their anterior ends are not attached to the sternum or to the cartilage of other ribs. They are free at the front and are located at the lower part of the rib cage.

4. **Count the Floating Ribs**:
- Since there are 2 pairs of floating ribs (the 11th and 12th pairs), the total number of floating ribs in the human body is 2 pairs.

### Final Answer:
The number of floating ribs in the human body is **2 pairs**.

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