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| Home |  | | | Recent queries | | | | Send a query | | | | Crossword | | | Lucky dip | | | | Any answers? | | | | About Notes and Queries | | | | Sudoku | |
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 | Categories | | Nooks and crannies |  | | Yesteryear | | | Semantic enigmas | | | The body beautiful | | | Red tape, white lies | | | Speculative science | | | This sceptred isle | | | Root of all evil | | | Ethical conundrums | | | This sporting life | | | Stage and screen | | | Birds and the bees | | | THE BODY BEAUTIFULWhy do men have fewer ribs than women? - MEN and women have 12 pairs of ribs (a few individuals have 13 or 11 pairs). The idea that men have fewer ribs than women is widespread but wrong, perhaps deriving from the biblical story of Eve being made from one of Adam's ribs. Steve Harper, Lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology, Thanet Technical College, Broadstairs, Kent.
- IT'S untrue. There is, however, a disease known as cervical rib which produces a single extra rib at the base of the neck. This is very rare indeed and can occur in either sex. James Mercer, Sheffield.
- This is Biblical bull. Both men and women have the same number of ribs, 12 pairs. J. Bean, London
- It is logical that men and women would have the same number of ribs. The rib cage protects the vital organs within the rib cage. Surely a Creator could replace Adam's rib once he had made the point that Eve would walk beside Adam, not above him nor below him but she was of his flesh and was his helpmate. v.Haselden, Auckland New Zealand
- @J Bean: The Bible does not claim that men have less ribs than women. The Bible says that a rib was taken from Adam, and the woman was built around that rib. I heard once that a kidney could be taken from a donor and implanted into somebody else, is this medical bull? D Gardiner, Erith Kent
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