[Biology Class Notes] on Sternum Pdf for Exam

The word sternum refers to the chest, and if you carefully look at the structure of the sternum or breastbone, it looks like a necktie. The human body is a complex structure, and it contains a lot of bones, muscles, and other organs. The sternum location is between the chest and, therefore, also known as the breastbone. Sternum plays a significant role in protecting all the organs near the torso area and also is a connection point of several bones and muscles.

In this article, we have discussed the structure of sternum along with its anatomy and functions.

Structure and Anatomy of Sternum 

The structure of the sternum contains the following three sternum parts.

• Manubrium: the first part of the sternum is the manubrium, which is the top part and includes your collar bone. At this, the top most ribs connect, and the bottom of the Manubrium shares a border with the other parts of the sternum. At the bottom of it, your second set of ribs of your body also connects. 

• Body: the middle part of the sternum is also known as the body, and it’s the longest part. It connects with manubrium at the top and the Xiphoid process at the bottom. You have often heard the word cartilage that is present in this part of the sternum, and here your third set of ribs to the seventh set connects with the help of cartilage. 

• Xiphoid process: the bottom part of the sternum is known as the Xiphoid process. The shape of this part can differ from individual to individual, and as your age increases, the Xiphoid process of the sternum slowly begins to calcify. 

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Functions of Sternum

One of the significant functions of the sternum is to protect lungs, blood vessels, and heart from any kind of injury, and it’s one of the longest and largest flat bones present in our body. There are major two functions of the sternum in our body, and those are as follows.

• Support: one of the most significant functions of the sternum is providing support to the chest and upper abdomen of our body. It provides support to the rib cage, and collar bone of your body, and many other parts of your skeleton system. 

• Protection: the sternum is present in the centre of your chest, and there are many organs near these areas, such as the heart, lungs, blood vessels, etc., so it protects them from all kinds of injury.

 

When Can the Sternum Break?

Many times it even happens that a break in the sternum can cause a lot of health problems. Most of the time, it’s noticed that the break can cause trouble related to different issues in the chest. Some of the causes of the broken sternum are as follows. 

• Car Accidents: car accidents can be a major reason for broken of the sternum, and it can be caused by multiple reasons such as high-impact sports, falling from a large height, and other reasons. 

• Other Reasons:- Another reason for a sternum is postmenopause, having osteoporosis, and adults have more chances of these problems. 

Did You know?

There are many bones inside our body that we can feel by touching it and Sternum is one of them. It’s lying between your chest, and you can feel it with your fingers, and it’s a flat bone in the centre of your torso. The large dip present in the neck of humans is known as a jugular notch.