The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Costochondral cartilage is the material that separates the bones within the rib cage. "Costo" means rib, "chondr" indicates cartilage. Also referred to as costal cartilage, it helps secure the ribs to the sternum.
The costal cartilages consist of 12 pairs of hyaline cartilage. The first seven pairs connect directly to the sternum, the next three are associated with the lower border of the preceding rib, and the final two end in the abdominal wall. Like the ribs, the costal cartilages vary in length, width and direction. The cartilage associated with the first rib is short and helps position the first costochondral joint close to the sternum. Cartilage length increases inferior (downward) toward the center of the rib cage, then decreases from ribs 7 to 12. The width and intervals between each cartilage diminishes from the first to the last. Direction of each paired cartilage is haphazard, the first descends slightly, the second is horizontal and the third slants upward. The remaining costal cartilages are angular.
Inflammation of the costochondral cartilage is a common condition marked by persistent chest wall pain. Symptoms are often mistaken for those associated with a heart attack.