sternum

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ster=num

CIDE DICTIONARY

sternum, n. [NL., from Gr. , the breast, chest.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  " 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."  [1913 Webster]
•  The ventral part of any one of the somites of an arthropod.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

sternum, n. (pl. sternums or sterna) the breastbone.

Etymology

mod.L f. Gk sternon chest