Lexicon: Costal Cartilage

Costal cartilage refers to the hyaline cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum in the human ribcage. It is essential for maintaining the structure and flexibility of the chest wall. Costal cartilage allows the ribs to move during respiration, which is crucial for breathing. There are typically 12 pairs of ribs in the human ribcage, and each rib is attached to the sternum through its costal cartilage.