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Sternum
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The sternum is a flat bone, to which ribs are attached to the right and left. The sternum has a handle, a body and a xiphoid process. The sternum arm (manubrium sterni) is the widest and thickest upper part of this bone. Above on the handle is an unpaired jugular incision (incisure iugularis), and on each side of it - a pair of clavicle notch (incisitra clavicularis) for junction with the clavicles.
On the right and left edges of the handle below the clavicular notch is a recess for articulation with the cartilage of the 1st rib. Still lower there is a half of a notch, which, joining with a similar notch on the body of the sternum, forms an incision for the 2nd rib. The handle, connecting with the body of the sternum, forms the angle of the sternum (angulus sterni), facing anteriorly.
The elongated body of the sternum (corpus sterni) on the edges has rib notches for articulation with the cartilages of the true ribs. The costal incision for the VII rib is between the sternum body and the xiphoid process. The x-ray processus (processus xiphoideus), which is the lower part of the sternum, is sometimes bifurcate.
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