rib cage

rib cage — noun

1. the curved structure of bones in the middle of the chest that surrounds and prot

1.名詞B1
釋義

the curved structure of bones in the middle of the chest that surrounds and protects the heart, lungs, and other organs inside the upper body

例句

The doctor asked Diego to breathe deeply so she could feel his rib cage expand.

expand the rib cage — movement when breathing in

Mei broke two ribs in a bike accident, but her rib cage protected her lungs.

possessive + rib cage + protective function

同義詞
  • thorax

    formal, medical term for the chest area including the rib cage and its contents; less common in everyday conversation

  • chest cavity

    refers to the space inside the rib cage, not the bony structure itself

文法句型

the rib cage

possessive + rib cage

用法筆記

Usually singular. Often preceded by 'the' or a possessive determiner (e.g., 'the rib cage', 'his rib cage'). The plural 'rib cages' is rare and used only when comparing multiple individuals.

常見錯誤

❌He broke his rib cage in the fall.
✅He broke a rib in the fall.
💡The rib cage as a whole structure rarely 'breaks'; individual ribs fracture. Use 'fractured rib cage' for the structure or 'broken rib(s)' for individual bones.