browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
sternum |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sternum \Ster"num\, n.; pl L. {Sterna}, E. {Sternums}. [NL., from Gr ?, the breast, chest.] 1. (Anat.) A plate of cartilage, or a series of bony or cartilaginous plates or segments, in the median line of the pectoral skeleton of most vertebrates above fishes; the breastbone. Note: The sternum is connected with the ribs or the pectorial girdle, or with both In man it is a flat bone, broad anteriorly, narrowed behind, and connected with the clavicles and the cartilages of the seven anterior pairs of ribs. In most birds it has a high median keel for the attachment of the muscles of the wings. 2. (Zo["o]l.) The ventral part of any one of the somites of an arthropod. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: sternum n : the flat bone that articulates with the clavicles and the first seven pairs of ribs [syn: {breastbone}]
more about sternum
This work is licensed under a
