College

Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences

Date of Last Revision

2025-05-08 11:41:09

Major

Biomedical Science

Honors Course

BIOL 499

Number of Credits

2

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Expected Graduation

Spring 2025

Abstract

Human rib morphology is a central focus within the exploration of ribcage biomechanical properties and thoracic traumas, with the use of anatomical models being crucial in clinical, academic, and forensic settings. Despite the significance, there is little existing research on bilateral asymmetry of the ribcage, and many models use the assumption of symmetry between right and left rib pairs. This study investigates morphological right and left rib pair asymmetries using high-resolution imaging and 3D reconstruction techniques among a diverse population of sex, age, and populations. Symmetry was tested using three variables: pitch, radius of curvature, and roll among rib pairs two through ten. Statistically significant differences (p-value < 0.05) revealed asymmetries between most tested rib pairs among all three variables. This study establishes a foundation of asymmetry within the human rib pairs to be considered for future thoracic training models, orthopedic prosthetics and procedures, and biomechanical simulations.

Research Sponsor

Rachel Olson

First Reader

Randi Depp

Second Reader

Jordan Renna

Honors Faculty Advisor

Brian Bagatto

Proprietary and/or Confidential Information

No

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