In Depth: Bones. The bones of the chest — namely the rib cage and spine — protect vital organs from injury, and also provide structural support for the body. The rib cage is one of the body’s best defenses against injury from impact.Flexible yet strong, the rib cage protects major vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and liver.n Depth: Bones. The bones of the chest — namely the rib cage and spine — protect vital organs from injury, and also provide structural support for the body. The rib cage is one of the body’s best defenses against injury from impact.