Floating ribs are four atypical ribs (two lowermost pairs, XI-XII) in the human ribcage. They are called so because they are attached to the vertebrae only, and not to the sternum or cartilage coming off the sternum. Some people are missing one of the two pairs. Others have a third pair. Most, however, possess two pairs.
Their position can be permanently altered by a form of body modification called tightlacing, which uses a corset to compress and move the ribs.
Famous quotes containing the words floating and/or rib:
“People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned.”
—James Baldwin (1924–1987)
“Man created woman—out of what? Out of a rib of his god—of his “ideal.””
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)