Sternal ossification in normal newborn infants

Abstract

The lateral chest radiographs of 200 Nigerian newborn infants, whose gestational age was estimated by the Dubowitz examination, were analysed for the pattern of ossification of sternal segments. The length of each visible centre was also measured. The manubrium was ossified in all infants over 35 weeks. All infants 37 weeks and above demonstrated ossification of the first and second mesosternal segments. Ten infants had ossification of the xiphisternum. The average number of ossified segments seen in this study is more than previously reported amongst Caucasian infants. The length of each segment correlated better with birth weight than gestational age. Our findings indicate that any infant with two ossified sternal segments, including the manubrium, is at least 30 weeks and those with 3 and 4 segments 34 and 37 weeks gestation, respectively. There is no difference in the pattern of sternal ossification between the sexes.

High Prevalence of Sternal Foramen: Quantitative, Anatomical Analysis and its Clinical Implications in Acupuncture Practice

“…McCormick & Nichols reported that ossification begins in manubrium and progresses to mesosternal (body) segments, presenting cranial to caudal development. The manubrium is reported to ossify first, in the 6 th fetal month (Kozielec, 1973;Kim et al, 1981;Odita et al, 1985;O'Neal et al, 1998). The mesosternum is reported to ossify in a craniocaudal direction, with ossification occurring first in segment 2 and last in segment 4.…”

“Missing” Sternal Ossification Center: Potential Mimicker of Disease in Young Children

“…The mesosternum is reported to ossify in a craniocaudal direction, with ossification occurring first in segment 2 and last in segment 4 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Ossification is reported to be present at birth (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). In this series, asynchronous nonossified sternal segments were observed in 3.5% of subjects, occurring most commonly at the second (superior mesosternal) and fourth (inferior mesosternal) segments.…”

“…The manubrium is reported to ossify first, in the 6th fetal month (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). The mesosternum is reported to ossify in a craniocaudal direction, with ossification occurring first in segment 2 and last in segment 4 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Ossification is reported to be present at birth (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”

“…The sternum is anatomically divided into three parts: the manubrium (sternal segment 1), the mesosternum (sternal segments [2][3][4], and the xiphoid (sternal segment 5) (1-9). Many investigators (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) have stated that sternal segments 1-4 demonstrate ossification centers at birth. The timing of ossification of the xiphoid, or sternal segment 5, varies much more, and the xiphoid may remain nonossified for years (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”

“…Many investigators (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) have stated that sternal segments 1-4 demonstrate ossification centers at birth. The timing of ossification of the xiphoid, or sternal segment 5, varies much more, and the xiphoid may remain nonossified for years (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Some researchers (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) think that asynchronous ossification of one of the superior four ossification sites may be suggestive of a number of disease processes.…”