What is Sternum?
The '''sternum''' or '''breastbone''', in [[vertebrate]] [[anatomy]], is a [[flat bone]]. In [[amphibian]]s and [[reptile]]s it is normally shaped like a [[shield]], often made of [[cartilage]]. It is [[wikt:absent|absent]] in both [[turtle]]s and [[snake]]s. In [[bird]]s it is larger, and has large [[flight]] [[muscles]] attached to it.<ref name=VB>{{cite book |author=Romer, Alfred Sherwood|author2=Parsons, Thomas S.|year=1977 |title=The Vertebrate Body |url=https://archive.org/details/vertebratebody0000rome_a5a9|publisher=Holt-Saunders International |location= Philadelphia, PA|page= [https://archive.org/details/vertebratebody0000rome_a5a9/page/188 188]|isbn= 0-03-910284-X}}</ref> Only in [[mammal]]s does the sternum take on the longer form seen in humans. ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Bones]] {{biology-stub}}