Body Of The Sternum, Anterior View

Description

Sternal body (gladiolus) occupies the central anterior midline of the thoracic cage, extending inferiorly from the manubriosternal junction toward the xiphisternal junction. Along its right and left margins, the costal notches form a stepped series for the hyaline costal cartilages, creating the anterior articulation of the sternocostal joints for ribs 2 through 7. Superiorly, the broad transverse contour at the level of the sternal angle marks the transition from manubrium to body, while inferiorly the narrowing inferior border approaches the xiphoid process. Surface texture and cortical margins are emphasized from a straight anterior perspective. Midline is unmistakable. Clinically, the sternal body matters because it is the bony corridor for median sternotomy in cardiac and mediastinal surgery, where the saw cut follows the midline to minimize injury to internal thoracic vessels that course parasternal on the deep surface. Traumatic sternal fractures often traverse the body and can correlate with blunt cardiac injury, so appreciating the thickness, contour, and costal notch levels helps in correlating physical findings with radiographs and CT reconstructions. The fixed anterior view also supports palpation teaching, tying the sternal angle to rib counting and to the transverse thoracic plane used as a reference for the superior mediastinum. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and osteology labs to teach thoracic wall landmarks, in surgical education materials describing median sternotomy closure with sternal wires, or in radiology and trauma publications discussing fracture location relative to the sternocostal attachments. It also fits patient-facing diagrams for CPR landmarking that avoid the xiphoid while locating the lower half of the sternum for compressions. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.