You’ve most likely heard of the rib cage. Everyone has one, but what does the rib cage do, exactly? The rib cage is also known as the thoracic cage, and the primary rib cage function is to protect the ...

Medically reviewed by Reza Samad, MD Key Takeaways Rib cage pain can be caused by an injury, inflammation, or autoimmune condition.Rib fractures or bruises from injury can cause intense pain, and ...

Floating rib injuries are caused, in part, by a vulnerability in human anatomy. The rib cage, which is made up of 12 pairs of ribs, doesn't fully attach to other bones in the same way at all points.