Body Of The Sternum Or Gladiolus, Posterior View

Description

Sternal body (gladiolus) fills the frame in posterior aspect, with its smooth, gently concave surface oriented toward the mediastinum. Superiorly, the manubriosternal junction marks the transition from the manubrium, while inferiorly the xiphisternal junction defines the caudal limit where the xiphoid process would attach. Along the right and left lateral borders, the costal notches for the 2nd through 7th costal cartilages are appreciated as irregular articular margins, placing the body of the sternum in direct relationship to the anterior thoracic wall and the internal surfaces of the anterior pleura. Subtle transverse ridges may be visible, reflecting fusion lines of the sternebrae. A midline landmark. Posterior sternal anatomy matters whenever you are thinking about what lies immediately deep to the anterior chest wall: fibrous pericardium, the anterior margins of the lungs and pleura, and the internal thoracic vessels running parallel to the sternal border on each side. In median sternotomy, the saw split follows the midline of the sternal body, and postoperative sternal dehiscence or deep sternal wound infection are discussed with reference to the thickness and quality of this bone and its posterior concavity. Blunt trauma can produce sternal fractures that threaten retrosternal structures, and a posterior view helps teach why displacement toward the thoracic cavity raises concern for pericardial or pulmonary injury. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and thoracic surgery teaching files to orient students to the internal face of the breastbone, or in medical publishing layouts that contrast anterior and posterior sternal surfaces for trauma, cardiothoracic, and radiology chapters. It also supports patient education materials explaining why midline chest incisions traverse bone and how the sternum relates to the heart and pleura. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.