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What is the lower portion of the sternum called

Author

William Harris

Published Mar 26, 2026

The body or middle portion of the sternum serves as the anterior attachment for ribs 2 through 7. The inferior tip of the sternum is called the xiphoid process, meaning “sword shaped.”

What is the lower portion of sternum?

The xiphoid process is the most inferior and smallest part of the sternum. It is variable in shape and size, with its tip located at the level of the T10 vertebrae. The xiphoid process is largely cartilaginous in structure, and completely ossifies late in life – around the age of 40.

What is the upper portion of the sternum?

Manubrium. The manubrium is a large quadrangular shaped bone that lies above the body of the sternum.

What are the parts of sternum?

The sternum is divided anatomically into three segments: manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.

What organ is right below your sternum?

Both the liver and the stomach are located in the lower chest region under the thoracic diaphragm, a sheet of muscle at the bottom of the rib cage that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

What is pain just below sternum?

Sternum pain is usually caused by problems with the muscles and bones near the sternum and not the sternum itself. Pain felt just behind or below the sternum is called substernal pain and is sometimes caused by gastrointestinal problems. Some of the most common causes of sternum and substernal pain are: costochondritis.

Can you feel the bottom of your sternum?

Your sternum is a flat bone that’s located in the middle of your torso. If you place your fingers at the center of your chest, you can feel it.

Where are the femur?

femur, also called thighbone, upper bone of the leg or hind leg. The head forms a ball-and-socket joint with the hip (at the acetabulum), being held in place by a ligament (ligamentum teres femoris) within the socket and by strong surrounding ligaments.

What muscle is under the sternum?

Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a large, flat, sheet-like muscle that extends horizontally underneath the rib cage. Functionally, the diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity, containing the lungs and heart and enclosed by the rib cage from the abdominal cavity, which contains the digestive organs.

What is posterior to the sternum?

In mammals the sternum is divided into three parts, from anterior to posterior: (1) the manubrium, which articulates with the clavicles and first ribs; (2) the mesosternum, often divided into a series of segments, the sternebrae, to which the remaining true ribs are attached; and (3) the posterior segment, called the

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What is the name for the bones of the lower back?

The bottom of the spine is called the sacrum. It is made up of several vertebral bodies usually fused together as one. The remaining small bones or ossicles below the sacrum are also fused together and called the tailbone or coccyx.

Which of the following is not correct about sternum?

The sternum has three parts, which are the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process. The costal groove is a feature on ribs and not the sternum.

What does a tumor on sternum feel like?

Symptoms of Chest Wall Tumors People with malignant chest wall tumors might experience one or more of the following: Pain or soreness. Swelling. Impaired movement or chest expansion.

What causes Tietze syndrome?

No one knows exactly what causes Tietze syndrome. Some experts believe that it is caused by many tiny traumas to the chest wall. You might also get the condition if you’ve had a lot of respiratory infections, bad coughing fits, or strain from exercise or other physical activity.

How do you get costochondritis?

  1. severe coughing, which strains your chest area.
  2. an injury to your chest.
  3. physical strain from repeated exercise or sudden exertion you’re not used to, such as moving furniture.
  4. an infection, including respiratory tract infections and wound infections.

What organ is below the rib cage in the middle?

Your spleen is an organ that sits just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen.

How do you fix costochondritis?

  1. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs pain relievers. Ask your doctor about using ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others).
  2. Heat or ice. Try placing hot compresses or a heating pad on the painful area several times a day. …
  3. Rest.

What does pancreatic pain feel like?

The most common symptom of both acute and chronic pancreatitis is pain in the upper abdominal area, usually under the ribs. This pain: May be mild at first and get worse after eating or drinking. May become constant, severe, and last for several days.

Where is costochondritis pain?

Costochondritis most commonly affects the upper ribs on the left-hand side of your body. Pain is often worst where the rib cartilage attaches to the breastbone (sternum), but it can also occur where the cartilage attaches to the rib.

What is the bone in lower leg?

The lower leg is comprised of two bones, the tibia and the smaller fibula. The thigh bone, or femur, is the large upper leg bone that connects the lower leg bones (knee joint) to the pelvic bone (hip joint).

What's the hardest bone in your body?

There are 22 bones in the human skull. The hardest bone in the human body is the jawbone.

What bone is the femur connected to?

The main shaft of the femur is known as the body of the femur. The distal end of the femur is where it connects with the patella (knee cap) and the bones of the lower leg, the tibia, and fibula. The distal end of the femur has a saddle that rests on the top of the tibia.

What is anterior and posterior?

Anterior refers to the front of the human body when used to describe anatomy. The opposite of anterior is posterior, meaning the back of the human body.

What is distal part mean?

Distal refers to sites located away from a specific area, most often the center of the body. In medicine, it refers to parts of the body further away from the center. For example, the hand is distal to the shoulder. … Distal is the opposite of proximal. Distal refers to distance, while proximal indicates proximity.

Is the knee distal or proximal to the ankle?

The knee is proximal to the ankle.

What is the name of the shin bone?

The tibia, or shinbone, is the most commonly fractured long bone in the body. A tibial shaft fracture occurs along the length of the bone, below the knee and above the ankle.

What is the name for the bones of the chest?

The sternum, or breastbone, is a long flat bone in the center of the chest. It protects the heart and also serves as the connection point for the costal cartilage. The clavicle, or collarbone, extends across the front of the shoulder from the sternum to the scapula, or shoulder blade.

What is the bone on the thumb side of the forearm?

The forearm consists of two bones, the radius and the ulna, with the ulna is located on the pinky side and the radius on your thumb side.

Should your sternum crack?

A popping or cracking sound in the sternum is generally not a cause for concern. However, anyone who wonders about the cause may wish to see a doctor. This is especially important when any other symptoms, such as pain or swelling, accompany the sound. These may indicate an injury or another health issue in the area.

Are there lymph nodes on sternum?

Behind the ribs and sternum are the heart, lungs, and esophagus. The chest cavity also contains muscle, connective tissue, and membranes, as well as lymph nodes, arteries, and veins.

Do Xrays show tumors?

An X-ray can detect broken bones, tumors, and even an object that is lodged inside the body. (Radiologists and technicians have found the strangest objects inside human bodies.)