‖ omosternum Comp. Anat.
(əʊməʊˈstɜːnəm)
[f. Gr. ὦµο-ς shoulder + mod.L. sternum, Gr. στέρνον breast.]
A cartilage, or an ossification of such cartilage at the anterior extremity of the sternum.
It is probably always derived from the ventral ends of the coracoids, and is called by Gegenbaur Epicoracoid. The name has often been applied to the membrane bone over-lying the front end of the sternum, and more properly called episternum or interclavicle.
| 1868 W. K. Parker Monograph Structure Shoulder-Girdle (Ray Soc.) 80 The præ-coracoid bar is larger than the coracoid,..and the ‘omosternum’ and true sternum have not yet made their appearance. Ibid. 81 In front of the bony bar a small hillock of soft new cartilage is seen..; this is the first rudiment of the ‘omosternum’. 1873 Mivart Elem. Anat. iv. 161 The omosternum becomes amongst Mammals very conspicuous in certain Shrews and Mice. 1892 Syd. Soc. Lex., Omosternum, the interarticular fibro⁓cartilage of the sterno-clavicular articulation. |
Hence omoˈsternal a., pertaining to the omosternum.