#might update later once i'm done with the rest of the thorax

[nucifraga]

just spent 6 hrs memorising the basic anatomy of the ribs - SO WHICH RIBS DID JON REMOVE?? [tw anatomy]

so some facts that we know; we know he's alive because of Beholding powers, right? and also that the ribs were "something [he] won't miss" and that the second rib was a "weird one".

there are two possible interpretations of this last fact; it was covered in eyes, it was a different type of rib to the last one, or both.

PART ONE: "the weird one"

let's take this second fact to be true. this means that jon removed two separate types of ribs!!

Quick run-through - There are 12 ribs, and they're all attached to individual parts of the spinal cord. Ribs can be categorised into:

typical/atypical

true/false

bonus: 'floating' (11 & 12 only).

Naturally, it's possible that Jared got one each from either the typical/atypical or true/false categories above, but I think his specific mention of a 'weird one' that he isn't sure that he likes implies it's a floating rib.

Floating ribs are weird. They're not attached to the sternum (big bone at the front) or the costal margin (which connects ribs 7-10 at the front). They're also smaller - by quite a bit! And they would probably classify as 'non-essential' by Jon standards, for ribs. So that's one of them!

Now, which of the 4 floating ribs do I think it is? The thing about the ribs is that they have a few purposes. Like protecting other organs.

The bottom left ribs protect the liver (very very important organ!! basically all the nutrients you ingest go here! it also has like, 500 other jobs - not an exaggeration btw), and the bottom right ribs protect the spleen. Except that usually, the bones that protect the spleen, a very soft organ, are ribs 9-11.

So anyway one of the ribs is definitely rib 12 on the left.

What about the other one?

PART TWO: "something [he] won't miss"

Well, it's not ribs 11-12. It's something different.

SO, a break-down of which ribs he 'might not miss'. I can't lie, pretty much all of them are important. They all protect nerves and blood vessels & attach to at least something. Rib 12 on the left is maybe the only 'unimportant' one I could think of, and even then it helps to protect the subcostal nerve.

Ribs 1-2 are pretty important. It's almost definitely not those two. Likewise, 3-6 are important as attachments for the upper limb muscles, and also for protecting the heart. Rib 7 is kinda needed as an attachment for the rest of the costal margin as well, so the only options are 8-10, really.

But here's an interesting thing about the lungs!! Between the lungs & the diaphragm (& hence the liver, which lies right below the diaphragm), is a gap of about 2 ribs wide. It's called the costodiaphragmatic recess, and it's for your lungs to expand into when you breathe in (and they fill with air).

Depending on how far along the rib you are, it lies between ribs 8-10, ribs 6-8, or ribs 10-12. Which makes it roughly between 8-10. Now, remember that ribs 9-11 protect the spleen on the left, so we're staying away from those.

But rib 8? Rib 8 should be safe. What about right or left? Could be either. But in the interest of balance, I think that rib 8 on the right is my headcanon for Bone That Sat In Jon's Drawer.

It also has the advantage of being a 'typical' rib [ribs 3-9], so for those familiar with anatomy, it looks like a standard rib (but it will still be unrecognisable to those unfamiliar, such as ep 140 Basira).

Mystery solved :D

thanks for reading my tedtalk <3 here are some useful diagrams

#the flesh #tma #the magnus archives #might update later once i'm done with the rest of the thorax #jonathan sims #jared hopworth #tma headcanons #tma spoilers #tw anatomy #look im a baby anatomy student #please please let me know if something is wrong #bc 1) it's interesting 2) you will probably help me pass my exams #i'll almost certainly redo this when i know more anatomy #but for now you get anatomy braindump #surprise it's not a mikecrew post #mag 131 #magpod #jon sims #have slightly edited the formatting #tma research