Sternum
Learning Objectives
After going through the study unit, you will be able to:
- Define the 3 main parts of the sternum.
- Identify the major features and bony landmarks of the sternum.
- Discover the relationship between the sternum and other structures.
Watch videos
The sternum is a flat, elongated bone located centrally in the anterior thoracic wall. It’s made up of three main parts: the manubrium, body and xiphoid process. It articulates with the clavicles at the sternoclavicular joints and with the cartilages of the first seven pairs of ribs through the sternochondral/sternocostal joints. The sternum anchors the right and left ribs to stabilize the rib cage, and has various functions including the protection of the heart and lungs from mechanical damage.
The following video tutorial will guide you through the anatomy of the sternum and its relationship with surrounding structures.
Check out the video below to find out more about the articulation between the sternum and the clavicle.
Take a quiz
To test your knowledge about what you’ve learned so far about the sternum, take the following quiz!
If you want to focus on your weak spots about the anatomy of the sternum, go ahead and try our customizable quiz where you can decide exactly which topics you will be tested on.
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/59/hhX1gkhVmmrvZoY1uiAesA_anatomy-of-sternum_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Take a closer look at each of the structures in this region in the gallery below.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/sternal-manubrium-4/fz6hCUlLbzzBm7Og82Ssw_manubrium_of_sternum.png "Manubrium of sternum (Manubrium sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/sternal-angle-1/FEwdIQsuRL4NRqu6evieZg_sternal_angle.png "Manubriosternal joint (Symphysis manubriosternalis); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/sternal-body-5/uRzSmmF4OMbBUzuN0vP3g_body_of_sternum.png "Body of sternum (Corpus sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/xiphisternal-junction/fDrM9TqQPvyntk7u6LsEAw_xiphisternal_junction.png "Xiphisternal joint (Synchondrosis xiphosternalis); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/xiphoid-process-3/dNLKvdkHtkA7uAS4krw_xiphoid.png "Xiphoid process of sternum (Processus xiphoideus sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/suprasternal-notch-3/pl5nhmUQc8OXpgwSnsD6kg_jugular_notch.png "Jugular notch of sternum (Incisura jugularis sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/clavicular-notch-1/eWpwdAbAWGAV4EJzVvWRw_clavicular_notch.png "Clavicular notch of manubrium of sternum (Incisura clavicularis manubrii sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/1st-costal-notch/2D6GJeBn5Fq2WWplYM35A_1st_costal_notch.png "1st costal notch of sternum (Incisura costalis 1 sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/2nd-costal-notch/Shy9zxo1vChKhKEvXK7xg_sternum.png "2nd costal notch of sternum (Incisura costalis 2 sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/2nd-costal-notch-1/IKRCqLQiPtQXlU2KkDzWw_sternum2.png "2nd costal notch of sternum (Incisura costalis 2 sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/3rd-costal-notch/uefQ9BPbmYfn1wUrl5Yng_3rd_costal_notch.png "3rd costal notch of sternum (Incisura costalis 3 sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/4th-costal-notch/Y9tZEgpXEUhR3Z6anNctzw_4th_costal_notch.png "4th costal notch of sternum (Incisura costalis 4 sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/5th-costal-notch/XsTbcD81EzmGEluXgoCKfQ_5th_costal_notch.png "5th costal notch of sternum (Incisura costalis 5 sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/6th-costal-notch/vp0ZacNRZSZE7TWRp8gmA_6th_costal_notch.png "6th costal notch of sternum (Incisura costalis 6 sterni); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Parts | Manubrium, body of sternum, xiphoid process |
| Bony landmarks |
Manubrium: Jugular notch, clavicular notch, 1st costal notch, 2nd costal notch Body of Sternum: 2nd-7th costal notches Xiphoid process |
| Joints |
Sternoclavicular joint: Articulation between manubrium and clavicle Sternochondral joints: Articulation between sternum and costal cartilages of 1st-7th ribs Manubriosternal joint: Articulation between manubrium and body of sternum Xiphisternal joint: Articulation between body of sternum and xiphoid process) |
| Function |
Provides an anchoring point for the costal cartilages Protection of heart and lungs from mechanical damage |
Well done!
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