What type of bones are ribs categorized as?

Ribs are appropriately categorized as flat bones due to their structure and function in the skeletal system. Flat bones are typically thin, flattened, and often slightly curved, which describes the shape of ribs. Their primary role is to protect vital organs, such as the heart and lungs, and to serve as attachment points for muscles involved in respiration.

While it's accurate to say that ribs do have cartilaginous components—specifically, they are connected to the sternum by costal cartilage—this does not define their classification as part cartilaginous bones. The distinction of being flat bones emphasizes their primary structural characteristics and functional purpose rather than just their composition. Other types of bones, such as long or irregular bones, serve different roles within the human body, highlighting the specific nature of ribs as flat bones.