Henry Gray (18211865). Anatomy of the Human Body. 1918. 5g.
Articulation of the Manubrium and Body of the Sternum The
manubrium is united to the body of the sternum either by an
amphiarthrodial jointa piece of fibrocartilage connecting the
segmentsor by a diarthrodial joint, in which the articular
surface of each bone is clothed with a lamina of cartilage. In
the latter case, the cartilage covering the body is continued
without interruption on to the cartilages of the facets for the
second ribs. Rivington found the diarthrodial form of joint in
about one-third of the specimens examined by him, Maisonneuve
more frequently. It appears to be rare in childhood, and is
formed, in Rivingtons opinion, from the amphiarthrodial form, by
absorption. The diarthrodial joint seems to have no tendency to
ossify, while the amphiarthrodial is more liable to do so, and
has been found ossified as early as thirty-four years of age.
The two segments are further connected by anterior and posterior
intersternal ligaments consistin