| Sternum | |
|---|---|
 Parts of the sternum: manubrium (green), body (blue), xiphoid process (purple) | |
 Position of the sternum (red) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | sternum |
| MeSH | D013249 |
| TA98 | A02.3.03.001 |
| TA2 | 1129 |
| FMA | 7485 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
The sternum (pl.: sternums or sterna) or breastbone is a long flat bone located in the central part of the chest. It connects to the ribs via cartilage and forms the front of the rib cage, thus helping to protect the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels from injury. Shaped roughly like a necktie, it is one of the largest and longest flat bones of the body. Its three regions are the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process.[1] The word sternum originates from Ancient Greek στέρνον (stérnon) 'chest'.
- ^ Saladin, Kenneth S. (2010). Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function, Fifth Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-07-352569-3.