STERNUM

[ster.num] n, pl sternums or ster.na [NL, fr. Gk sternon chest, breastbone; akin to OHG stirna forehead, L sternere to spread out--more at strew] (1667): a compound ventral bone or cartilage of most vertebrates other than fishes that connects the ribs or the shoulder girdle or both and in humans consists of the manubrium, gladiolus, and xiphoid process--called also breastbone