Abstract: Objective　To investigate the morphological characteristics of the skeletal articular surface of the rib head joint by morphological measurement, and provide a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment, nail placement design and related biomechanical research.　Methods　40 sets (80 sides) of adult thoracic bone specimens were selected, and related indicators were observed, and statistical analysis was performed according to different segments.　Results　Most of costal fovea of T1～9 were in the plane of the upper vertebrae, the lower vertebrae were concave, and the single costal fovea of T10～12 were mostly flat. The positions of the ribs of the vertebral rib head joint costal fovea C7~T3 were both in the vertebrae. On the body, T4 began to gradually move back ribs, the root-body half-type appeared, from T7 to the root-based type, and gradually increased, T12 were all root-based. R1, R2, R11 and R12 were single. The articular surface of the rib head, from R3 to R10, had both single rib head and double rib head articular surface. The latter appeared to increase first and then gradually decreased. R1 to R5 single rib head joint plane type decreased from 52.1% to 15.0% , and R6, R7, R9 did not see the flat type. R1 ~ 6 concave type gradually decreased from 47.5% to 6.3%. R8～12 concave type gradually increased from 8.8% to 48.7%. Double rib head joints were mainly flat and concave, followed by double concave. In R3~8 double rib head joint, the appearance rate of upper flat and lower concave type increased from 8.8% to 66.2%, while the appearance rate of R8～10 was gradually lower. the appearance rate of R4～10 upper and lower double concave type was lower than that of upper and lower concave type.　Conclusions　The clinical application should be based on the relevant parameters of 1-12 ribs to select a suitable diagnosis and treatment plan.

Key words: Rib head joint, 　Bone articular surface, 　Morphological characteristics