also: ろっこつ
noun
The anatomical rib bone. Both readings あばらぼね and ろっこつ are used; あばらぼね is more common in everyday speech, while ろっこつ is often used in medical or technical contexts.
転んで肋骨を折ってしまった。
I fell and broke a rib.
肋骨のあたりが痛い。
It hurts around my ribs.
noun
Only with reading ろっこつ
Technical term for the rib-like structural frame of a ship's hull. Restricted to the reading ろっこつ.
船の肋骨は、船体の強度を保つ重要な部分です。
The ship's frames are an important part that maintains the hull's strength.