This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
pay off etc.
sentence
Jun 24, 2013 07:03
11 yrs ago
11 viewers *
English term

chestbone

English Medical Medical (general) anatomy
the sternum is also known as the breastbone; is "chestbone" also a correct alternative name for 'sternum"?
Responses
5 +2 sternum
4 +5 No

Discussion

R.S. (asker) Jun 25, 2013:
much obliged Thanks a lot for your explanation and the useful links, Charles. I was not able to find the links.
Charles Davis Jun 24, 2013:
sternum The woman's broken "chest bone" mentioned in this article was undoubtedly her sternum. A rib would never be referred to as a "chest bone", but the sternum quite commonly is. It is certainly not incorrect, though it is informal; the journalist who wrote this report probably thought that some of his readers would not understand the word "sternum". In medical circles the term "chest bone" would not be used, though a doctor might use it to a patient for the reason just mentioned: to avoid technical language.

"Breastbone" is more common as a non-technical alternative to sternum, but plenty of people call it the chest bone.

"The sternum (chest bone) lies in the midline of the anterior chest wall."
http://www.mananatomy.com/body-systems/skeletal-system/stern...

"How to protect your chest bone (sternum) after thoracic surgery"
http://tinyurl.com/q8d4733

"The sternum can also be called the breastbone or chest bone."
http://www.newhealthguide.org/Sternum-Pain.html

etc., etc.
R.S. (asker) Jun 24, 2013:
rib? does the chest bone in this article refer to a rib?
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/woman-bleeding-...

Responses

+2
20 mins
Selected

sternum

Chest bone appears to be the colloquial term in the US whereas breast bone is favoured elsewhere. It is of course the sternum that is referred to in both cases.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 hrs (2013-06-25 06:23:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Most commonly the term is written in two words, but a google search will come up with many instances where it is written as one word as well, as this example shows: "Chest wall abnormalities (pectus excavatum/or indented chestbone or pectus carinatum/protruding chestbone)".
http://www.marfan.org/marfan/2348/other
Example sentence:

Chest Bone Development in Children

Reference:

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/chest-bone-development-children-4407.html

Peer comment(s):
agree Charles Davis : Yes, it is used, occasionally in UK and Ireland too (perhaps by people who want to avoid using the word "breast"), but nearly always as two words (chest bone).
13 mins
Thanks, Charles. And, yes, two words for "chest bone" but one for "breastbone".
agree 638556 (X)
53 mins
Thanks, Jo.
disagree Michal Berski : Defnitely not, the paper quoted clearly refers to chest bones (bones of chest)
7 hrs
Not quite right, Michal. The article refers to both "chest bone" and "bones":"A child's chest bone, as well as surrounding bones, begins forming almost immediately after conception. In most cases, nature takes its course and a baby's chest bone forms..."
agree raptisi
8 hrs
Thanks, Raptisi.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks"
+5
19 mins

No

except maybe in the song "Dry Bones". (The headbone connected to the neckbone, etc., oh hear the word of the Lord!)
Peer comment(s):
agree Suzan Hamer : I don't know why nobody else agrees with you, Jack. You DID answer the question.... And make me laugh... now if I could just get dem bones outa my head. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYb8Wm6-QfA. Ah, reading on I see perhaps "no" isn't correct after all.
1 hr
Thank you.//I googled "chestbone" as one word and couldn't find a single entry. Didn't think of trying it as two words, but I still reckon I've answered the question, as asked, correctly.
agree Sabina Králová
1 hr
Thank you.
agree Thayenga : An indeed amusing but correct answer, Jack. :)
5 hrs
Thank you.
agree David Moore (X)
6 hrs
Thank you.
agree Michal Berski
7 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search