The sternum, or breastbone, is the flat bone where the ribs meet. Sometimes, the joints can pop or crack as a person stretches or moves. A muscle spasm, an injury, costochondritis, and surgery are ...

Oluseun Olufade, MD, is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at the Emory School of Medicine. The sternum protects your heart and lungs by acting as a shield in your chest.

To perform open heart surgery, a surgeon cuts through the sternum in a procedure known as a sternotomy. It is a major operation that involves a lengthy healing process that can take months or years.

‌‌The sternum – sometimes called the breastbone – is the flat bone in the center of your chest. Your ribs and collarbone connect to your sternum. A break in your sternum is also known as a sternal ...