Fractured Manubrium of the Breastbone, Anterior View

Description

Centered in the anterior thoracic wall, the sternum is presented with emphasis on the manubrium and its relationship to the sternoclavicular notches superiorly and the sternal angle at the manubriosternal junction inferiorly. A fracture line crosses the manubrial plate near the sternoclavicular notch, where the medial clavicle would articulate laterally and the first costal cartilage anchors along the superior border. Inferior to the injury, the body of the sternum (gladiolus) continues toward the xiphoid process, aligning in the midline over the mediastinum. Orientation is straightforward. Anterior. Manubrial fractures are less common than fractures of the sternal body and often imply a higher-energy mechanism such as a restrained motor vehicle collision, where seatbelt loading and deceleration transmit force through the shoulder girdle into the sternoclavicular region. Proximity to the sternoclavicular joint matters because associated posterior displacement at this level can threaten the brachiocephalic veins, trachea, or esophagus, and clinical workup frequently pairs CT assessment of the anterior chest with evaluation for concomitant clavicular, first rib, and mediastinal injuries. The fracture’s position relative to the jugular (suprasternal) notch and manubriosternal junction also provides a clean teaching point for mapping pain localization and palpation landmarks during primary survey. Use this illustration for trauma modules in gross anatomy and radiographic anatomy courses, for emergency medicine and orthopedic teaching files on sternal fracture patterns, or for publishing figures that distinguish manubrial injury from fractures of the sternal body and xiphoid. It also suits patient-facing materials explaining anterior chest wall injury near the sternoclavicular joint. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.