Cervical rib in a young individual from the late medieval cemetery of Corfinio (12-13 century CE, Italy): a case report and review of the literature.

Cervical ribs constitute the most important variants among ribs, particularly because of their proximity to the brachial plexus nerve network and subclavian artery. Thus, cervical ribs may exert excessive pressure upon these structures, producing a variety of symptoms that may be considered as a neuro-vascular complex. Cervical ribs are not uncommon in the catalogue of anatomic abnormalities in modern medicine, but few cases have been reported from historic skeletal material.