what protective function does the ribcage serve?
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It protects the lungs, heart and other vital organs.
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It's a defense mechanism that is secreted from their joints to ward of potential enemies.
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to avoid a disease or other medical condition.
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If anything, it gives you support for previously injured areas. Also, prevents new injuries from happening by giving support to joints.
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Clearly, joints provide mobility in an otherwise rigid skeleton. The skin is an organ, three cells thick, that serves as a barrier between the internal and external. The skin keeps things that should be in, in, and things that should be out, out.
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They act as a first defense against air born particles entering the respiratory system....
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protecting from what?
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If you want to breathe, you need ribs that can spread apart when you take a breath in.  Otherwise, you'd be like a crab.
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The skin is the first line of defense. Mucus membranes in the nose and and cilia in the respiratory system also help to trap bacteria and 'sweep' it out of the body. The Immune system patrols the blood and lymph vessels of the body looking for intruders that make it past the first line of defense. Different cells in the immune system have different functions. Some cells (phagocytes) are ingest foreign invaders. Some cells are markers that flag foreign substances for attack by other immune system cells. \nHere's a few sources to help you better understand how the different immune system cells work together to protect the body.
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you could have just strained a muscle in your rib cage... breathing requires the movement of a lot of these muscles, especially breathing out, so that action could be causing a compression or stretch on the muscle. Just relax and try not and do anything to make you breath really deep or forcefully and hopefully it will go away...
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Limbs are paddle-shaped to help the turtle move through the water; excretion of salts through lacrymal gland -conversion of saltwater to freshwater keeps the internal organs from failing and protects the sea turtle from dehydration; hard outer shell protects the turtle from predators and helps prevent dessication (drying out); hinge in the body that allows the turtle to take in more air and come up to breathe less frequently
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ribs, feet, back of legs
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The coronary vessels are the ones that circulate blood to the heart itself, because the heart doesn't just get oxygen from the blood that it's pumping through. Being on the surface of the heart improves efficiency while minimizing potential problems. Think of it this way: if the heart had major vessels inside the muscle tissue, it could decrease the strength and durability of the heart wall. Having the coronary vessels on the outside and having small vessels penetrate the heart will result in a lower risk of rupture.
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The term 'articular cartilage' refers to the cartilage found on the 'articular' surfaces of bones (ie. the surfaces of bones that make a joint). This type of cartilage is referred to as hyaline cartilage and helps to protect the bones from wear and tear. Cartilage is also found between the ribs and their attachments to the sternum (breastbone). This cartilage is elastic and allows for the mobility required of the ribcage when we inhale and exhale. Yet another type of cartilage is found in our ear, and nose. This type of cartilage is more firm and its role is to provide structure.
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A cervical collar is a plastic, foam, or plastazole neck brace that can be rigid or soft and is used to secure the cervical vertebrae in the normal position. The term normal anatomical position, or neutral position is used to describe the position of the head, neck and spine in the manner in which they appear with a human body lying supine with palms facing upward. With the head, neck and spine aligned in such a manner, the potential for injuries to these organs is decreased.\n\nCervical collars are used on an emergency or long term basis to prevent cervical flexion, extension, or rotation. They are often used for herniated discs, pinched nerves, fractures, muscle strains and sprains (such as whiplash), or after an invasive procedure or injury.\n\nThere are many types of cervical collars. The least restrictive, a soft collar, is often used in transition from a more rigid brace to none at all. A rigid collar
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on the sternum, two fingers above the xiphoid process.Please do not place your hands on the ribs of the rib cage, during CPR ribs break and to place them directly over ribs will force the rib into the organs that they cover! place your hands only on the sternum (the bone that connects the ribs in front).
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The ribs are thin, flat, curved bones that form a protective cage around the organs in the upper body. They are comprised 24 bones arranged in 12 pairs.