Manubrium Of The Sternum, Lateral View

Description

Manubrium sterni occupies the superior segment of the breastbone, and this lateral view emphasizes its thick anterior cortex, the posterior surface facing the superior mediastinum, and the oblique manubriosternal junction inferiorly. Superiorly, the jugular (suprasternal) notch sits between the clavicular notches, while the first costal notch lies at the inferolateral margin where the first costal cartilage meets the sternum. At the inferior border, the manubrium forms the sternal angle (angle of Louis) with the body of the sternum, a palpable step that marks the approximate level of the T4 to T5 intervertebral disc. Subtle surface relief also accommodates soft tissue attachments, including sternocleidomastoid superiorly and pectoralis major along the anterior surface. Manubrial anatomy matters when you need reliable anterior thoracic landmarks and when you are interpreting or managing trauma. Sternal fractures often involve the body, but manubrial fractures and manubriosternal dislocation occur with high energy deceleration and can coincide with first rib injury, sternoclavicular disruption, or underlying mediastinal injury. The lateral perspective is useful for appreciating the depth of the manubrium and the angulation at the manubriosternal joint, points that influence surgical planning for median sternotomy extension, sternal plating, or reconstruction after sternoclavicular joint resection. Palpation starts here. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and osteology teaching, in thoracic surgery and trauma publications discussing sternal angle landmarks, and in radiology education when correlating lateral chest imaging with the manubrium, first rib, and sternoclavicular region. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.