[The basic patterns of the change in the morphological properties of rib fractures with the breathing preserved]

The author analyzes the kinematics of fractured rib fragment movements from the thoracic excursion position and in relation to orthogonal coordinates. A scheme of stages in changes of fractured rib morphology in a biotribologic system at intact respiration has been developed. Staged pattern and order of changes of the initial morphologic characteristics of fractured ribs and acquisition of new properties by them is demonstrated which may be regarded as expert diagnostic criteria to assess their life-time or postmortem appearance.