What causes a pulmonary embolism? Blood clots can form for a variety of reasons. Pulmonary embolisms are most often caused by deep vein thrombosis, a condition in which blood clots form in veins deep in the body. The blood clots that most often cause pulmonary embolisms begin in the legs or pelvis.
All ribs are attached posteriorly to the thoracic vertebrae. The neck of the rib is the flattened part that extends laterally from the head. The neck is about 3 cm long, and is placed in front of the transverse process of the lower of the two vertebrae with which the head articulates.
The first 14 ribs â seven on each side â in the rib cage are known as true ribs. These bones are attached to the breastbone at one end and the backbone, or spine, at the other end. The five pairs of ribs that follow are referred to as false ribs. These are shorter than the bones above.