Sternum (Sternum)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
A flat bone at the midline of the chest — manubrium, body and xiphoid process. The ribs meet it via costal cartilages and the clavicles attach to it; the heart and great vessels lie directly behind.
Clinical notes
Sternotomy (splitting the sternum) is the standard approach for open-heart surgery, and the sternum is a common site for bone-marrow aspiration.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Sternum?
A flat bone at the midline of the chest — manubrium, body and xiphoid process. The ribs meet it via costal cartilages and the clavicles attach to it; the heart and great vessels lie directly behind.
Why is the Sternum clinically important?
Sternotomy (splitting the sternum) is the standard approach for open-heart surgery, and the sternum is a common site for bone-marrow aspiration.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details