Sternum
It's a flat, flat, odd bone. It is an important hematopoietic bone.
Features 3 parts:
- Manubrium
- Body
- Xiphoid Process
Manubrium
Front Face
- External or Chest
- smooth
Back Face
- Internal or Pleural
- concave and smooth
Top Edge
- jugular notch
- Right and Left Clavicular Notches
Side Edge
- Presents a costal notch for the 1st costal cartilage and 1/2 for the 2nd
Bottom Edge
- Links with the body
- Sternal Angle – between the Manubrium and the Body
Body
- Outer Face: Anterior or pectoral (flat)
- Inner face: Posterior or pleural (concave)
- Superior Edge: Articulates with the manubrium
- Lower Edge: Articulates as xiphoid process
- Lateral Edge: 1/2 costal notch for 2nd costal cartilage and costal notch for 3rd to 7th costal cartilage
Xiphoid Process
It is thin and elongated. It is the smallest of the three portions.
- xiphoid process foramen
The sternum articulates with the clavicles and cartilages of the seven (7) first ribs.
| STERNUM - ANTERIOR AND SIDE VIEW |
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| Source: SOBOTTA, Johannes. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 21 ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan, 2000 . |