Sternum

Description

Shown in lateral profile, the male thoracic cage is rendered with the sternum (breastbone) highlighted against the curving ribs and the posterior vertebral column with pale intervertebral discs. Superiorly, the manubrium bears the suprasternal (jugular) notch, while the clavicular notches sit anterosuperior at the sternoclavicular joints. Inferior to the manubrium, the sternal body aligns anterior to the thoracic vertebrae, receiving the costal cartilages of the true ribs at its costal notches, with intercostal spaces separating adjacent ribs. A clear midline strut. Clinically, a lateral view is where sternal position and rib-sternum relationships read best, which matters when teaching how anterior chest wall mechanics influence ventilation and when correlating surface landmarks to deeper structures. The manubriosternal junction (sternal angle) is the palpable level of the second costal cartilage, the standard starting point for rib counting, and a common reference during thoracostomy tube placement or intercostal nerve blocks. Trauma also lives here: sternal fractures from seat-belt injury and costochondral separations are often assessed by how the anterior chest wall contour relates to the spine and rib arcs. Use this illustration for gross anatomy lab manuals covering osteology of the thorax, for radiology teaching pieces that bridge rib counting on lateral chest radiographs, and for surgical education on anterior approaches such as median sternotomy planning and sternal wire closure concepts. It also fits patient-facing materials that need accurate clavicular and costal attachment context without distracting soft-tissue detail. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.