sternum
pronunciation
How to pronounce sternum in British English:
UK [ˈstɜ:nəm]
How to pronounce sternum in American English:
US [ˈstɜrnəm]
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- Noun:
- the flat bone that articulates with the clavicles and the first seven pairs of ribs
Word Origin
- sternum (n.)
- "breastbone," 1660s, from Greek sternon "chest, breast, breastbone" (in Homer, only of males), also "the breast as the seat of affections," related to stornynai "to spread out," from PIE *ster-no- "to stretch, extend," from root *stere-, *ster- "to spread," related to stornynai "to spread out" (see structure (n.)), on the notion of the chest as broad and flat, as opposed to the neck. Related: Sternal.
Example
- 1. On the female 's chest the ribs and the sternum have been beautifully carved .
- 2. So hypochondria really meant the soft tissues and organs that lay beneath your ribs and sternum .
- 3. That stress-resistance is provided by muscles which are attached to a keel-like extension of the sternum . Microraptor lacked this keel .
- 4. For us , we found that lightly pounding on our son 's sternum made him laugh so hard his face turned red .