sternum

American  

[stur-nuhm] / ˈstɜr nəm /

noun

sterna, plural sternums plural

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a bone or series of bones extending along the middle line of the ventral portion of the body of most vertebrates, consisting in humans of a flat, narrow bone connected with the clavicles and the true ribs; breastbone.

2. the ventral surface of a body segment of an arthropod.

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sternum British  

/ ˈstɜːnəm /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: breastbone.  (in man) a long flat vertical bone, situated in front of the thorax, to which are attached the collarbone and the first seven pairs of ribs

2. the corresponding part in many other vertebrates

3. a cuticular plate covering the ventral surface of a body segment of an arthropod Compare tergum

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sternum Scientific  

/ stûr′nəm /

1. A long, flat bone located in the center of the chest, serving as a support for the collarbone and ribs.

2. Also called breastbone

3. See more at skeleton

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sternal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• sternums
  plural
• sterna
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sternum

1660–70; < New Latin < Greek stérnon chest, breastbone

Explanation

Your sternum is your breastbone, the flat plate at the top of your rib cage. Mammals and birds — and even arachnids, or spiders — have a sternum. If you study human anatomy, you'll learn that the sternum is a long, flat, T-shaped bone made of fused segments. The rib cage attaches the sternum to the spine, or vertebrae. The word itself comes from the Greek sternon, "chest, breast, or breastbone," from a root that means "flat surface."

Example Sentences

The two Depressors are call'd Sternoclinomastoidei; they take their Rise in the Sternum, at the Clavicles, and proceed obliquely to join the Apophysis Mastoides.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel

There are twenty nine in the Breast, viz. twenty four Ribs, two Clavicles or Channel-Bones and commonly three Bones in the Sternum.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel

Depth of Crest relatively to the length of the Sternum, in comparison with Gallus bankiva.

From The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication — Volume 1 by Darwin, Charles

The first of the Openers is the Latus, which beginning at the top of the Sternum, Clavicle, and Acromion, cleaves on the outside to the bottom of the Lower-Jaw-Bone.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel

A Bolster and Paste-board are to be laid upon the Sternum, almost of the same Figure with the Part; and the Bandage is to be prepar'd with a Napkin supported with a Scapulary.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel