True Ribs attach directly to the sternum. False ribs attach through costal cartilage. Floating ribs have no attachment to the sternum.

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The first seven sets of ribs are considered true ribs as they have a direct attachment to the sternum.

The next three sets of ribs are considered false ribs as they are attached to the strum by costal cartilage links to the sternum.

The last two pairs of ribs are floating ribs because they are not attached to the sternum.

The floating ribs are less stable and risk breaking because they have only one attachment dorsally to the vertebrae and have very thin bone tissue locked in muscle as they extend laterally.