The body of the sternum (gladiolus) is the long middle part of the breastbone, joined above to the manubrium at the sternal angle and below to the xiphoid process. Its lateral borders have notches for the costal cartilages of ribs 2-7, and it is formed by four fused segments called sternebrae.
| Articulations |
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|---|---|
| Landmarks |
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| Ossification | Ossifies from paired or single centres in each of its four segments, appearing between about the sixth fetal month and the first year after birth; the segments fuse from below upward between puberty and about 25 years. |
The body of the sternum is divided in median sternotomy for heart surgery and is the site of compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Sternal fractures from seat belt or steering wheel impact raise concern for blunt cardiac injury. A sternal foramen, from incomplete fusion of the ossification centres, is a normal variant that matters for sternal needle procedures.
Usually transverse through the body after seat belt or steering wheel impact, causing localised pain and sometimes associated with cardiac contusion.
Failure of the sternotomy closure to heal, sometimes with infection (mediastinitis), causing an unstable, clicking breastbone.
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