Human and animal rib cages differ in several ways:
- Number of Ribs: Humans typically have 12 pairs; dogs and cats have 13 pairs, and some mammals have up to 17 pairs.
- Shape and Orientation: Human rib cages are wide and flat with downward-sloping ribs; quadrupeds have more cylindrical cages with horizontal ribs.
- Sternum: The human sternum is relatively inflexible; some animals have more flexible sternums for locomotion.
- Mobility: Human rib cages are mobile for breathing; some animals, like reptiles, have less flexible cages.