The sternum ( lat. Sternum , from Greek στέρνον, sternum , chest or sternum ) is an oblong flat bone located in the middle of a person’s chest. It connects to the ribs with the help of cartilage , forming together with them the chest , which holds and protects the lungs , heart and most important blood vessels from external influences.
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During surgical operations ( median sternotomy ) on the heart, the sternum is sometimes split in half to access the organ.
Overview
The sternum is an oblong flattened bone that forms the central part of the anterior chest wall. Its upper end supports the collarbone , and the edges are connected by cartilage with the first seven pairs of ribs. The upper part of the sternum also connects to the sternocleidomastoid muscle . The sternum consists of three parts (from top to bottom):
- Sternum grip ( lat.manubrium )
- The body of the sternum ( lat.corpus sterni )
- The xiphoid process of the sternum ( lat. Processus xiphoideus )
In the normal state, the sternum is tilted from above, down and inward. It is slightly convex in front and concave at the back, wide at the top, tapering to the junction of the handle with the body of the sternum, then again slightly expanding to about the middle of the body, and then tapering to the very bottom. The average sternum length of an adult is about 17 centimeters, for a man it is longer than for a woman.
In the initial period of life, the sternum is divided into three segments, called Latin sternebræ (singular: sternebra ).
Structure
The sternum is a long spongy bone, that is, made up of spongy bone, covered with a thin layer of a compact (otherwise dense) substance. The thickest part of the compact bone substance is located in the manubrium, between the clavicular cartilage.
Articulations
On both sides, the sternum articulates with the clavicles and the first seven pairs of ribs.
Sternum fracture
A sternum fracture is a relatively rare occurrence. Such a fracture can be caused mainly by trauma, for example during a car accident , when the driver’s chest hits the steering wheel in a head-on collision. A sternal fracture is usually comminuted , that is, when the bone is fragmented into several parts. Best of all, such a fracture is observed at the angle of the sternum . Some studies show that frequent repeated blows to the sternum and beating can also cause a fracture. Fractures of the sternum are often accompanied by damage to internal tissues, such as a bruise or lung injury [2] .
Images
The front surface of the sternum and ribs.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Foundational Model of Anatomy
- ↑ Sattler S, Maier RV. Pulmonary contusion // Thoracic Trauma and Critical Care / Karmy-Jones R, Nathens A, Stern EJ. - Berlin: Springer, 2002 .-- P. 235-243. - ISBN 1-4020-7215-5 .
See also
- Anatomical terminology
- Edge
- Rib cage
- Pain in the sternum (please describe the pain in the very center of the sternum (not behind it, not under it, namely in it), otherwise there’s only advertising and “water” on YouTube)