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Esternón

Os sternum

The flat bone at the center of the anterior chest wall, the sternum shields the heart and great vessels and anchors the costal cartilages of the upper seven ribs and the clavicles; its interior is a site of red bone marrow production. It is built from three parts: the manubrium above, the body in the middle, and the xiphoid process below. The jugular notch lies at the superior border of the manubrium, and the sternal angle, or angle of Louis, marks the junction of the manubrium and body at the level of the second rib. Direct trauma, such as a steering-wheel impact, can fracture it. Median sternotomy is the standard surgical approach to the heart, and sternal marrow aspiration and biopsy are common diagnostic procedures.

El esternón consta de tres partes: el manubrio (superior), el cuerpo (medio) y el proceso xifoides (inferior). La escotadura yugular se encuentra en el borde superior del manubrio. El ángulo esternal (ángulo de Louis) marca la unión entre el manubrio y el cuerpo, a la altura de la segunda costilla.

On this page
Tipo Bone
Sistema corporal Esquelético
Región corporal Tórax
Estructura principal thoracic segment organ
Nombre latino Os sternum
FMA ID 7485

Función

El hueso plano situado en el centro de la pared torácica anterior. Protege el corazón y los grandes vasos. Proporciona inserción a los cartílagos costales de las siete costillas superiores y a las clavículas. Es un sitio de producción de médula ósea roja.

Significado clínico

Las fracturas esternales se producen por traumatismo directo (lesiones por el volante). La esternotomía media es el abordaje estándar para la cirugía cardíaca abierta. La punción y biopsia de médula ósea esternal son procedimientos diagnósticos habituales.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three anatomical parts of the sternum?

The sternum consists of three parts: the manubrium (upper portion), the body (middle, largest portion), and the xiphoid process (inferior, cartilaginous tip). The junction between the manubrium and body creates the sternal angle (angle of Louis), a palpable landmark at the T4-T5 level that marks the bifurcation of the trachea, the level of the second costal cartilage, and the aortic arch.

Why is the sternum important for red blood cell production?

The sternum contains red bone marrow throughout adulthood, making it an active site of hematopoiesis—the production of blood cells including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Because it is accessible through the overlying skin, the sternum is used for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy procedures to diagnose blood disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, and multiple myeloma.

What is median sternotomy and when is it performed?

Median sternotomy is the surgical procedure of longitudinally splitting the sternum from the sternal notch to the xiphoid process to gain wide exposure of the mediastinal contents. It is the standard approach for open-heart surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repair or replacement, and cardiac transplantation. The sternum is subsequently wired together with stainless steel wires for closure and heals over several months.

What causes sternal fractures and which associated injuries are concerning?

Sternal fractures are most commonly caused by high-energy direct anterior chest trauma, classically from the steering wheel in motor vehicle collisions without airbag protection. Because the sternum lies directly anterior to the heart and great vessels, sternal fractures raise concern for associated injuries including myocardial contusion (bruising of the heart muscle), aortic injury, and pericardial effusion. An ECG and cardiac monitoring are typically performed after sternal fracture.

What is the function of the xiphoid process?

The xiphoid process is the small, cartilaginous inferior tip of the sternum that may partially ossify in adulthood. It serves as an attachment point for the rectus abdominis muscle and the diaphragm, and is the landmark for the lower border of the heart. It is important to identify the xiphoid process during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to ensure chest compressions are applied to the lower sternum, not to the xiphoid, which could fracture and lacerate abdominal organs.

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy — FMA:7485 Reference anatomy ontology (University of Washington)
  2. UBERON — UBERON:0000975 Cross-species anatomy ontology (EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service)

Aviso médico

Este contenido es solo para fines educativos e informativos. No pretende ser un sustituto del consejo médico profesional, diagnóstico o tratamiento. Siempre busque el consejo de su médico u otro proveedor de salud calificado ante cualquier pregunta que pueda tener sobre una condición médica. Nunca ignore el consejo médico profesional ni demore en buscarlo debido a algo que haya leído en este sitio web.

Educational Disclaimer

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions.

Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.