# Human Anatomy: Ribcage/Sternum

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-anatomy-ribcage-sternum/206144>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 7, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-anatomy-ribcage-sternum/206144 "2003-10-07T20:13:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-anatomy-ribcage-sternum/206144/1 "2003-10-07T20:13:35Z")

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I’m 40 years old, and have just noticed for the first time that my sternum seems to extend below the point where my two lowest, front ribs meet. I am able to grasp this extended part and move it in and out a centimeter or so, as if it were attached by cartilage. Am I a freak? Er, that is, am I normal? Um, in other words, is this to be expected?

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**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-anatomy-ribcage-sternum/206144/2 "2003-10-07T20:17:47Z")

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Google Zaphoid process

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**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-anatomy-ribcage-sternum/206144/3 "2003-10-07T20:18:50Z")

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errr make that xiphoid process

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**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-anatomy-ribcage-sternum/206144/4 "2003-10-07T20:20:48Z")

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[http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=8&q=http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/x/xiphoid\_process.php&e=7417](http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=8&q=http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/x/xiphoid_process.php&e=7417)

i used to joke about it being somehow related to Zaphod Beeblebrox