How many pairs of ribs are there in the human body?

There are [A] 12 pairs of ribs in the human body. Ribs are long, curved bones that form the rib cage, a protective structure surrounding the chest cavity. The rib cage plays a crucial role in protecting vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.
Of the 12 pairs of ribs, the first seven pairs are known as true ribs because they connect directly to the sternum (breastbone) via costal cartilage. The next three pairs are called false ribs, with the eighth, ninth, and tenth ribs attaching indirectly to the sternum or to the cartilage of the seventh rib. The last two pairs, the eleventh and twelfth ribs, are floating ribs because they do not attach to the sternum at all, only to the vertebrae.
The ribs provide structural support to the thoracic cavity and contribute to the mechanics of breathing by expanding and contracting with the movement of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles during respiration.