Sternal angle

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Sternal angle
Lateral border of sternum.
Anterior surface of sternum and costal cartilages. (Sternal angle not labeled, but visible at second costal cartilage.)
Latin	angulus sterni, angulus sternalis
Gray's	subject #27 121
Dorlands/Elsevier	a_42/12136357

The sternal angle is the angle formed by the junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum^[1] in the form of a secondary cartilaginous joint (symphysis). This is also called the manubriosternal joint or Angle of Louis. The sternal angle is a palpable clinical landmark.

It marks the approximate level of the 2nd pair of costal cartilages and the level of the intervertebral disc between T4 and T5. It also marks approximately the beginning and end of the aortic arch, and the bifurcation of the trachea into the left and right main bronchi.

The angle is approximately 140 degrees.

[edit] See also

• Thoracic plane

[edit] References

1. ^ Dalley, Arthur F.; Moore, Keith L.. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-5936-6. 

[edit] External links

• SUNY Labs 18:st-0212 - "Thoracic Wall: Bones"
• sternal+angle at eMedicine Dictionary

v • d • e Bones of torso Sternum Suprasternal notch, Manubrium, Sternal angle, Body of sternum, Xiphisternal joint, Xiphoid process Rib specific ribs (1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, false - 8-12, floating - 11-12) - parts (Angle, Tubercle, Costal groove, Neck, Head) General vertebral structures body of vertebra, vertebral arch (pedicle, lamina, vertebral notch), foramina (vertebral, intervertebral), processes (transverse, articular / zygapophysis, spinous) Cervical vertebrae C1 (anterior arch, posterior arch, lateral mass), C2 (dens), C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 anterior tubercle, posterior tubercle, foramen transversarium Thoracic vertebrae T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12 costal facets (superior, inferior, transverse) Lumbar vertebrae accessory process, mammillary process, L5 Sacrum pelvic surface (anterior sacral foramina), dorsal surface (posterior sacral foramina, median sacral crest, medial sacral crest, lateral sacral crest), lateral surface (sacral tuberosity), base, sacral hiatus - presacral space - sacral promontory - sacral canal - ala of sacrum - sacrovertebral angle