Description
The costal groove (costal sulcus) is the short, shallow depression found along the body of the eleventh rib. It begins lateral to the tubercle and travels along the internal surface of the body, adjacent to the inferior border, and gradually becomes indistinguishable as it travels to the more anterior part of the body of the eleventh rib.
The intercostal vein, artery and nerve travel along the costal groove, with the vein lying most superior and the nerve most inferior. The upper edge of the costal groove provides an attachment site for the innermost intercostal muscle.
Overall, only the second to eleventh ribs have a costal groove, while the first and twelfth ribs lack this bony feature.
Related parts of the anatomy
