Bifid rib
Encyclopedia
A bifid rib is a congenital abnormality
of the rib cage
and associated muscles and nerves which occurs in about 1.2% of humans. Bifid ribs occur in up to 8.4% of Samoans
(McKinley & O'Loughlin, p. 214). The sternal end of the rib is cleaved into two. It is usually unilateral.
Bifid ribs are usually asymptomatic
, and are often discovered incidentally by chest X-ray. Effects of this neuroskeletal anomaly can include respiratory
difficulties, neurological difficulties, limitations, and limited energy from the stress of needing to compensate for the neurophysiological difficulties. Another association is with cyst of the jaw which may become malignant and may be a part of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
.
Congenital abnormality
A congenital anomaly is a condition which is present at the time of birth which varies from the standard presentation....
of the rib cage
Human rib cage
-See also:*Terms for bones*Terms for anatomical location*Articulation of head of rib-References:* Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 4th ed. Keith L. Moore and Robert F. Dalley. pp. 62–64...
and associated muscles and nerves which occurs in about 1.2% of humans. Bifid ribs occur in up to 8.4% of Samoans
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
(McKinley & O'Loughlin, p. 214). The sternal end of the rib is cleaved into two. It is usually unilateral.
Bifid ribs are usually asymptomatic
Asymptomatic
In medicine, a disease is considered asymptomatic if a patient is a carrier for a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms. A condition might be asymptomatic if it fails to show the noticeable symptoms with which it is usually associated. Asymptomatic infections are also called subclinical...
, and are often discovered incidentally by chest X-ray. Effects of this neuroskeletal anomaly can include respiratory
Respiration (physiology)
'In physiology, respiration is defined as the transport of oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues, and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction...
difficulties, neurological difficulties, limitations, and limited energy from the stress of needing to compensate for the neurophysiological difficulties. Another association is with cyst of the jaw which may become malignant and may be a part of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome , also known as basal cell nevus syndrome, multiple basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, and Gorlin–Goltz syndrome, is an inherited medical condition involving defects within multiple body systems such as the skin, nervous system, eyes, endocrine...
.