What is the name for a space between the ribs?

The correct term for the space between the ribs is the intercostal space. This anatomical term describes the regions located between adjacent ribs, where intercostal muscles, nerves, and blood vessels are situated. These spaces are clinically significant because they can be sites for procedures such as chest drainage or injection, and they allow for the expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity during respiration.

In contrast, the subcostal space refers to the area beneath the rib cage, typically associated with the lower margin of the ribcage. The intravertebral space pertains to the area between the individual vertebrae in the spine, which does not directly relate to the ribcage. Lastly, the costovertebral space relates to the joints between the ribs and the vertebrae, again differing from the specifically defined spaces between the ribs themselves. The intercostal space is the most accurate answer for identifying the area specifically located between the ribs.