costal cartilage

3 definitions found

costal cartilage - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Costal \Cos"tal\ (k?s"tal), a. [Cf. F. costal. See Costa.]
     1. (Anat.) Pertaining to the ribs or the sides of the body;
        as, costal nerves.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot. & Zool.) Relating to a costa, or rib.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Costal cartilage. See Cartilage, and Illust. of Thorax.
        [1913 Webster]

  Cartilage \Car"ti*lage\, n. [L. cartilago; cf. F. cartilage.]
     (Anat.)
     A translucent, elastic tissue; gristle.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Cartilage contains no vessels, and consists of a
           homogeneous, intercellular matrix, in which there are
           numerous minute cavities, or capsules, containing
           protoplasmic cells, the cartilage corpuscul. See Illust
           under Duplication.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Articular cartilage, cartilage that lines the joints.
  
     Cartilage bone (Anat.), any bone formed by the ossification
        of cartilage.
  
     Costal cartilage, cartilage joining a rib with he sternum.
        See Illust. of Thorax.
        [1913 Webster]

costal cartilage - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  costal cartilage
      n 1: the cartilages that connect the sternum and the ends of the
           ribs; its elasticity allows the chest to move in
           respiration