A small cartilaginous extension at the lower end of the sternum that serves as an attachment point for several muscles and ligaments.
Structure
The xiphoid process is the smallest of the three sections of the sternum, sitting below the manubrium and the body. In children it is cartilaginous; by middle age it typically ossifies into bone and may fuse with the sternal body.
Attachment
It anchors the diaphragm centrally and serves as the inferior origin of the rectus abdominis muscle. The linea alba, the midline tendon of the abdominal wall, terminates at the xiphoid.
Clinical note
During CPR, compressions must be applied above the xiphoid to avoid fracturing it, which can injure the underlying liver or stomach.
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Xiphoid Process starts with X and ends with S. Browse other body parts along the same letter.
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