Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (735 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The bony thoracic enclosure consisting of the vertebral column; the RIBS; the sternum; and the costal cartilage.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Rib Cages; Thoracic Cage; Thoracic Cages; Ribcage; Ribcages; Costal Margin; Costal Margins; Margin, Costal.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 21,464 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Rib Cage” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 2,209 of them (10.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 11,077 records.
Reviews account for 1,136 records (5.3%) and meta-analyses for 59. Randomized controlled trials number 224 (1.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 11,077 |
| 2000-2009 | 4,080 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,098 |
| 2020 onward | 2,209 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,136 | 5.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 59 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 224 | 1.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Rib Cage"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sternal reconstruction after post-sternotomy mediastinitis | 2017 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 65 | cc by PMID 29096673 · DOI · PMC5667468 |
| Sox9+ messenger cells orchestrate large-scale skeletal regeneration in the mammalian rib | 2019 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 55 | cc by PMID 30983567 · DOI · PMC6464605 |
| Current treatment and outcomes of traumatic sternal fractures-a systematic review | 2019 | Systematic review Design not recorded in structured metadata | 50 | cc by PMID 29700586 · DOI · PMC6525114 |
| Adamts4 coordinates the transcriptomic profile of primary rat costal chondrocytes | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 41736693 · DOI · PMC12933000 |
Sternal reconstruction after post-sternotomy mediastinitis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundDeep sternal wound complications are uncommon after cardiac surgery.
- Closing excerpt
- Negative pressure wound therapy and appropriately timed and staged muscle or omental flap reconstruction have transformed the outcomes once these complications occur.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (156 words)
BackgroundDeep sternal wound complications are uncommon after cardiac surgery. They comprise sternal dehiscence, deep sternal wound infections and mediastinitis, which will be treated as varying expressions of a singular pathology for reasons explained in the text.Methodology and reviewThis article reviews the definition, prevalence, risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, microbiology and management of deep sternal wound infections and mediastinitis after cardiac surgery. The role of negative pressure wound therapy and initial and delayed surgical management is discussed with special emphasis on plastic techniques with muscle and omental flaps. Recent advances in reconstructive surgery are presented.ConclusionsDeep sternal wound complications no longer spell debilitating morbidity and high mortality. Better understanding of risk factors that predispose to deep sternal wound complications and general improvement in theatre protocols for asepsis have dramatically reduced the incidence of deep sternal wound complications. Negative pressure wound therapy and appropriately timed and staged muscle or omental flap reconstruction have transformed the outcomes once these complications occur.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29096673 · DOI · PMC5667468
Sox9+ messenger cells orchestrate large-scale skeletal regeneration in the mammalian rib [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Most bones in mammals display a limited capacity for natural large-scale repair.
- Closing excerpt
- The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (188 words)
Most bones in mammals display a limited capacity for natural large-scale repair. The ribs are a notable exception, yet the source of their remarkable regenerative ability remains unknown. Here, we identify a Sox9-expressing periosteal subpopulation that orchestrates large-scale regeneration of murine rib bones. Deletion of the obligate Hedgehog co-receptor, Smoothened, in Sox9-expressing cells prior to injury results in a near-complete loss of callus formation and rib bone regeneration. In contrast to its role in development, Hedgehog signaling is dispensable for the proliferative expansion of callus cells in response to injury. Instead, Sox9-positive lineage cells require Hh signaling to stimulate neighboring cells to differentiate via an unknown signal into a skeletal cell type with dual chondrocyte/osteoblast properties. This type of callus cell may be critical for bridging large bone injuries. Thus despite contributing to only a subset of callus cells, Sox9-positive progenitors play a major role in orchestrating large-scale bone regeneration.Editorial noteThis article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30983567 · DOI · PMC6464605
Current treatment and outcomes of traumatic sternal fractures-a systematic review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeTraumatic sternal fractures are rare injuries.
- Closing excerpt
- Although all patients in this review displayed sternal healing, results should be interpreted with caution since most included studies were of poor quality.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (189 words)
PurposeTraumatic sternal fractures are rare injuries. The most common mechanism of injury is direct blunt trauma to the anterior chest wall. Most (> 95%) sternal fractures are treated conservatively. Surgical fixation is indicated in case of fracture instability, displacement or non-union. However, limited research has been performed on treatment outcomes. This study aimed to provide an overview of the current treatment practices and outcomes of traumatic sternal fractures and dislocations.MethodsA systematic review of literature published from 1990 to June 2017 was conducted. Original studies on traumatic sternal fractures, reporting sternal healing or sternal stability were included. Studies on non-traumatic sternal fractures or not reporting sternal healing outcomes, as well as case reports (n = 1), were excluded.ResultsSixteen studies were included in this review, which reported treatment outcomes for 191 patients. Most included studies were case series of poor quality. All patients showed sternal healing and 98% reported pain relief. Treatment complications occurred in 2% of patients.ConclusionsTreatment of traumatic sternal fractures and dislocations is an underexposed topic. Although all patients in this review displayed sternal healing, results should be interpreted with caution since most included studies were of poor quality.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29700586 · DOI · PMC6525114
Adamts4 coordinates the transcriptomic profile of primary rat costal chondrocytes [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Chondrocytes play a pivotal role in cartilage tissue engineering.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings warrant further investigation of the crucial target genes of ADAMTS4 in the regulation of human chondrocyte behaviors.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (202 words)
Chondrocytes play a pivotal role in cartilage tissue engineering. ADAMTS4 gene encodes aggrecanase-1, which is known to affect chondrocyte biology by regulating aggrecan degradation. However, the molecular mechanism by which ADAMTS4 regulates chondrocyte phenotype remains unclear. To comprehensively investigate Adamts4-regulated genes in primary rat costal chondrocytes, we conducted siRNA-mediated Adamts4 knockdown alongside RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), co-immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry (CO-IP/MS), and enhanced RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (iRIP-seq). Our results demonstrated that Adamts4 knockdown did not affect chondrocyte apoptosis. However, Adamts4 silencing markedly changed the expression levels of numerous genes linked to cell differentiation and cell cycle progression. CO-IP/MS experiments showed that Adamts4 extensively interacted with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in rat chondrocytes. iRIP-seq data suggested that Adamts4 bound to a large number of transcripts, especially those with AU-rich motifs at coding regions. Most interestingly, we found three genes Hmox1, Acan, and Col2a1, which were deregulated upon Adamts4 silencing and enriched in the Adamts4 RIP samples. Altogether, these results indicate that Adamts4 knockdown remarkably modulates the transcriptomic profile of rat chondrocytes. Interactions with RBPs or target mRNAs might contribute to Adamts4-mediated alterations in gene expression. These findings warrant further investigation of the crucial target genes of ADAMTS4 in the regulation of human chondrocyte behaviors.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41736693 · DOI · PMC12933000
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Anatomical, histologic, and genetic characteristics of congenital chest wall deformities [5]
- Research article Prevention and management of sternal wound infections [6]
- Research article Bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest and deep sternal wound infection in diabetic patients [7]
- Research article Traumatic Rib Injury: Patterns, Imaging Pitfalls, Complications, and Treatment [8]
- Research article A review of craniofacial disorders caused by spliceosomal defects [9]
- Research article Risk Factors for Sternal Complications After Cardiac Operations: A Systematic Review [10]
References
- Kaul P. Sternal reconstruction after post-sternotomy mediastinitis. . 2017. PMID 29096673 · DOI · PMC5667468
- Kuwahara ST, Serowoky MA, Vakhshori V, Tripuraneni N, Hegde NV, Lieberman JR, et al.. Sox9+ messenger cells orchestrate large-scale skeletal regeneration in the mammalian rib. . 2019. PMID 30983567 · DOI · PMC6464605
- Klei DS, de Jong MB, Öner FC, Leenen LPH, van Wessem KJP. Current treatment and outcomes of traumatic sternal fractures-a systematic review. . 2019. PMID 29700586 · DOI · PMC6525114
- Wei Z, Chen Y, Kou W, Zhang Y, Sha W, Guo R, et al.. Adamts4 coordinates the transcriptomic profile of primary rat costal chondrocytes. . 2026. PMID 41736693 · DOI · PMC12933000
- Fokin AA, Steuerwald NM, Ahrens WA, Allen KE. Anatomical, histologic, and genetic characteristics of congenital chest wall deformities. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009. PMID 19632563 · DOI
- Lazar HL, Salm TV, Engelman R, Orgill D, Gordon S. Prevention and management of sternal wound infections. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016. PMID 27555340 · DOI
- Deo SV, Shah IK, Dunlay SM, Erwin PJ, Locker C, Altarabsheh SE, et al.. Bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest and deep sternal wound infection in diabetic patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013. PMID 23352296 · DOI
- Talbot BS, Gange CP, Chaturvedi A, Klionsky N, Hobbs SK, Chaturvedi A. Traumatic Rib Injury: Patterns, Imaging Pitfalls, Complications, and Treatment. Radiographics. 2017. PMID 28186860 · DOI
- Lehalle D, Wieczorek D, Zechi-Ceide RM, Passos-Bueno MR, Lyonnet S, Amiel J, et al.. A review of craniofacial disorders caused by spliceosomal defects. Clin Genet. 2015. PMID 25865758 · DOI
- Balachandran S, Lee A, Denehy L, Lin KY, Royse A, Royse C, et al.. Risk Factors for Sternal Complications After Cardiac Operations: A Systematic Review. Ann Thorac Surg. 2016. PMID 27553500 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.