- See Also:
- - Sterne
  - sternforemost
  - sternite
  - sternmost
  - Sterno
  - sternocleidomastoid
  - sternocostal
  - sternpost
  - sternsheet
  - sternson
  - sternum
  - sternutation
  - sternutator
  - sternutatory
  - sternward
  - sternwards
  - sternway
  - sternwheeler
  - steroid
  - steroidogenesis
  - sterol
- Recent searches:
- View All

sternum

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈstɜː^rnəm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈstɝnəm/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(stûr′nəm)

Inflections of 'sternum' (n):

sterna: npl

sternums: npl

ster•num /ˈstɜrnəm/USA pronunciation n. [countable], pl. -na /-nə/USA pronunciation -nums.

Anatomythe bony plate or series of bones to which the ribs are attached;
the breastbone.

ster•num (stûr′nəm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -na (-nə),USA pronunciation -nums.

Anatomy, Zoologya bone or series of bones extending along the middle line of the ventral portion of the body of most vertebrates, consisting in humans of a flat, narrow bone connected with the clavicles and the true ribs;
breastbone. See diag. under skeleton.
the ventral surface of a body segment of an arthropod.

Greek stérnon chest, breastbone
Neo-Latin
1660–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sternum /ˈstɜːnəm/ n ( pl -na /-nə/, -nums)

(in humans) a long flat vertical bone, situated in front of the thorax, to which are attached the collarbone and the first seven pairs of ribsNontechnical name: breastbone
the corresponding part in many other vertebrates
a cuticular plate covering the ventral surface of a body segment of an arthropod
Compare tergum

Etymology: 17th Century: via New Latin from Greek sternon breastboneˈsternal adj

'sternum' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

breastbone - xiphisternum - angina pectoris - asternal - carina - chicken breast - clavicle - coracoid - episternum - false rib - floating rib - gladiolus - manubrium - presternum - prosternum - ratite - rib - thorax - true rib - solar plexus - sternal - sternite - Sterno - sternocleidomastoid - sternocostal

In Lists: Medical vocabulary, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "sternum" in the title:

No titles with the word(s) "sternum".

Visit the English Only Forum.
Help WordReference: Ask in the forums yourself.

Look up "sternum" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "sternum" at dictionary.com

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/sternum

⇱ sternum - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

sternum