Any of the flat, curved bones that form a framework for the chest and a protective cage around the heart, lungs, and other underlying organs. There are 12 pairs of ribs, each joined at the back of the ribcage to a vertebra. The upper 7 pairs, known as “true ribs”, link directly to the sternum by flexible costal cartilage.
The next 2 or 3 pairs of “false ribs” connect indirectly to the sternum by means of cartilage attached to the cartilage of the ribs above.
Between and attached to the ribs are thin sheets of muscle (intercostal muscles) that act during breathing.
The spaces between the ribs also contain nerves and blood vessels.
n. a curved, slightly twisted, strip of bone forming part of the skeleton of the thorax, which protects the heart and lungs. There are 12 pairs of ribs. The head of each rib articulates with one of the 12 thoracic vertebrae of the backbone; the other end is attached to a section of cartilage (see costal cartilage). The first seven pairs – the true ribs – are connected directly to the sternum by their costal cartilages. The next three pairs – the false ribs – are attached indirectly: each is connected by its cartilage to the rib above it. The last two pairs of ribs – the floating ribs – end freely in the muscles of the body wall. Anatomical name: costa.
Sections of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) – the principal molecule in a cell carrying genetic information – that act as enzymes (see ENZYME). The function of a ribozyme is to transform the messages encoded in DNA into proteins (see PROTEIN), using its property of catalysing chemical reactions in a cell. Most ribozymes act only on other pieces of ribonucleic acid (RNA), editing the messenger type that carries instructions to the parts of the cell that makes proteins. This editing ability is being used by scientists researching ways of correcting faulty GENES which can cause inherited disorders. The aim is to persuade the ribozyme to inhibit the messenger RNA to prevent production of the faulty gene. Ribozymes might also be used to disrupt infectious agents, such as viruses, which rely on RNA to invade body cells.... ribozyme
Burm. f.
Family: Myrsinaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India.
English: Embelia.
Ayurvedic: Vidanga, Krmighna, Krmihara, Krmiripu, Chitratandula, Jantughna, Jantunaashana, Vella, Amogha.
Unani: Baobarang, Barang Kaabuli.
Siddha/Tamil: Vaayuvidangam.
Action: Ascaricidal, anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, febrifuge. Used in diseases of chest and skin. Active principles are found to be oestrogenic and weakly progestogenic. Root—bechic, antidiarrhoeal. Seed—spermicidal, oxytocic, diuretic. The plant is also used for its blood purifying properties. It is an ingredient in cough syrups, preparations for anaemia, genitourinary tract infections, diarrhoea and diseases of the liver.
Embelin, isolated from the berries, shows significant anti-implantation and post-coital antifertility activity. (Successful trials have been carried out at the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi on human beings.) It is found to be a potential male antifer- tility agent. Spermatogenesis has been impaired and sperm count reduced to the level of infertility. The antisper- matogenic changes are found to be reversible without any toxic effects.Aqueous and EtOH extract of the fruit—anthelmintic against earthworms. Fruit powder (200 mg/kg), taken with curd on empty stomach, expelled tapeworm within 6-24 h. The treatment was also found effective in giardiasis. EtOH (50%) of the plant was found slightly active against E.coli. Di-salts of embelin—an- thelmintic. Amino salts exhibited less side effects than embelin. The effect of di-isobutyl amino derivatives lasted up to 10 h, also showed anti-inflammatory, hypotensive and antipyretic activities.Berries gave quinones—embelin, ra- panone, homoembelin, homorapnone and vilangin.
Dosage: Fruit—5-10 g powder. (API Vol. I.)... embelia ribes
The British Pharmacopoeia name for what used to be known as vitamin B2. The minimal daily requirement for an adult is 1·5–3 mg, but is greater during pregnancy and lactation. De?ciency in the diet is thought to cause in?ammation of the substance of the cornea (see EYE), sores on the lips, especially at the angles of the mouth (CHEILOSIS), and DERMATITIS. (See APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS.)... riboflavin
The bones, 12 on each side, which enclose the cavity of the chest. The upper seven are joined to the breast-bone by their costal cartilages and are therefore known as true ribs. The lower ?ve do not reach the breast-bone, and are therefore known as false ribs. Of the latter, the eighth, ninth and tenth are joined by their costal cartilages, each one to the rib immediately above it, while the 11th and 12th are free from any such connection and are therefore known as ?oating ribs. Each rib has a head, by which it is joined to the upper part of the body of the vertebra with which it corresponds, as well as to the vertebra immediately above. The greater part of the bone is made up of the shaft, which runs at ?rst outwards and at the angle turns sharply forwards. On the lower margin of the shaft is a groove, which lodges the corresponding intercostal artery and nerve.... ribs
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