It is one of the bones that make up the thorax, being mainly identified by the physical characteristics it possesses, among which its symmetry, the central position it occupies, the flatness of its surface and its unevenness stand out. Likewise, it consists of 3 parts, called the manubrium, the body and the xiphoid appendix (which may vary depending on the subject with whom it is being treated); The first two, on the other hand, form the Louis angle (35º degrees), a bone piece that can ossify over the years, something very similar to what the xiphoid appendix experiences, which ossifies from the 40 years of life. It has, like most bones, an anterior and posterior face, ends (base and vertex) and sides.
Specifically, it is located in the middle part of the thorax, on its posterior aspect, as well as articulates with the clavicles and some of the true and false ribs. In its anatomy there is a free edge, called the notch (the place where the sternum and costal cartilages meet) jugular, which can be found at the end of the base of the neck; likewise, there are clavicular notches, which join the clavicles, respectively. Some ridges can be found that form during the embryonic ossification period.
Prehistoric animals developed the sternum as a piece that functioned as an extension of the shoulder girdle. In them it is found, similarly to humans, in the middle of the thorax. Birds have large specimens and these are articulated with the wings; on the contrary, in snakes and turtles it cannot be found.
