A typical human body has 12 pairs of ribs, for 24 individual ribs in total.
The ribs form the curved bony framework of the thoracic cage, protecting the heart and lungs while helping the chest expand during breathing. Each rib connects at the back to the thoracic vertebrae, although the front ends attach to the sternum either directly, indirectly, or not at all.
The first seven pairs are called true ribs because their cartilage connects directly to the sternum. Pairs eight through ten are false ribs because they connect indirectly through the cartilage above them. The eleventh and twelfth pairs are floating ribs, with no front attachment to the sternum.
The word “typical” matters because anatomical variations exist. Some people are born with an extra cervical or lumbar rib, while others may have a missing or unusually formed rib. These variations do not change the standard quiz answer. The old myth that women have more ribs than men also has no anatomical basis; both sexes typically have 12 pairs.