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plural sternums or sterna
ˈstər-nə
: a compound ventral bone or cartilage of most vertebrates other than fishes that connects the ribs or the shoulder girdle or both and in humans consists of the manubrium, gladiolus, and xiphoid process
called also breastbone
Examples of sternum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those were the paralyzing squeezes beneath my sternum, all part of having the anesthetic fiddle with one of the nerves on my diaphragm.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 18 May 2024
At the event, Brittany wore a figure-hugging pastel yellow dress with cutouts at her sternum.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 May 2024
The bars were placed underneath the sternum to elevate it, Cusick explains.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Extra features like load lifters and sternum straps can enhance the fit but be cautious about over-tightening these to avoid transferring too much weight onto the upper body.
—Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
And as the ball sailed through the air, Brooklyn guard Dennis Schroder was delivering a light body check to Conley’s sternum.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2024
Flat Bones Flat bones are broadened and flattened structures, as in the cranium, the sternum (breast bone), and the scapulae (shoulder blades).
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
Accordingly, the Bridgerton star opted for a wool overcoat that provided warmth, and that was strategically left open at the sternum for a little visible cleavage.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2024
Initial necropsy findings released the day after what onlookers described as a deadly building strike suggested Flaco had sustained an acute traumatic injury to his body, with signs of substantial hemorrhage under his sternum and in his back near his liver.
—Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sternum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sternum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sternum. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
sternum
noun
ster·num
ˈstər-nəm
plural sternums or sterna
-nə
: a compound ventral bone or cartilage that lies in the median central part of the body of most vertebrates above fishes and that in humans is about seven inches (18 centimeters) long, consists in the adult of three parts, and connects with the clavicles and the cartilages of the upper seven pairs of ribs
called also breastbone
More from Merriam-Webster on sternum
Nglish: Translation of sternum for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sternum
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