Sternum
(Redirected from Corpus sterni)
The sternum is a central bone located in the thoracic region of the human skeleton, playing a vital role in protecting the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels from injury.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The sternum is a long, flat bone situated in the center of the chest, connecting to the rib cage via costal cartilages. It serves as an anchor for the ribs at the front of the chest and supports the shoulder bones, making it essential for the stability of the chest wall.
Components[edit | edit source]
The sternum can be divided into three main parts:
- Manubrium: The uppermost portion, broad and quadrangular. It joins with the clavicles (collar bones) and the first pair of ribs.
- Body of the sternum (or Gladiolus): The central and longest part of the sternum. It attaches to the costal cartilages of the second through seventh ribs.
- Xiphoid process: The lowermost, small and cartilaginous part, which becomes ossified later in life. It is an important landmark for certain surgical procedures and CPR.
Function[edit | edit source]
- Protection: Acts as a shield for vital organs such as the heart and lungs.
- Structural Support: Provides stability to the skeletal structure of the thorax.
- Facilitating Movement: Assists in the movement of the chest during respiration.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
The sternum and its position can be affected by various conditions and can be subject to surgeries:
- Sternal fractures: Often resulting from direct trauma or impact to the chest.
- Sternal wire complications: Issues arising post-cardiac surgery, where the sternum might be wired shut.
- Pectus excavatum: A congenital deformity resulting in a sunken sternum.
- Pectus carinatum: Opposite of Pectus Excavatum, where the sternum protrudes outward.
- Sternal tumors: Rare occurrences but might be primary or metastatic.
Sternum seen posteriorly
Sternum cut along the frontal plane showing interior of the bone
Sternum, lateral aspect
Computer-generated image of ribcage turntable highlighting the sternum
See also[edit | edit source]
| Sternum Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
