If women were not created from Adam’s rib, why is it that men have one fewer rib than women?

Question: If women were not created from Adam's rib, why is it that men have one fewer rib than women?
- Keywords:
  Adam's rib,
  Bible,
  men,
  women
Asked by bubulis to Aggelos, Andrew, Eileen, Naomi, Shane on 14 Nov 2012. This question was also asked by niallthenerd.
- Andrew Jackson answered on 14 Nov 2012:
  
  hi
  
  this is a common mistake made. Men and women both have 12 ribs on each side. There are some people that have one extra or one less but its rare (about 1 in 500 or so). This mistake perhaps arises because females are slightly more likely to have an extra rib than men and also from the stories in the bible. But, the bottom line is we have the same number. The evidence for humans evolving from primates is very strong indeed, and i dont think any biologist, nor any sensible scientist (there are always a few odd scientists out there with whacky ideas), would question this.
- Eileen Diskin answered on 14 Nov 2012:
  
  Andrews correct, we’ve all got 24! (12 on each side)

Question: If women were not created from Adam's rib, why is it that men have one fewer rib than women?