The
sternal angle or 'angle of Louis' is the anterior angle formed by the junction of the
manubriumThe manubrium or manubrium sterni is the broad, upper part of the sternum. Located Ventrally with a quadrangular shape, wider superiorly and narrower inferiorly, it articulates with the clavicles and the first two ribs.-Surfaces:Its anterior surface, convex from side to side, concave from above...
and the body of the
sternumThe sternum is a long flat bone shaped like a capital 'T' located in the center of the thorax...
(the
manubriosternal junction) in the form of a secondary cartilaginous joint (symphysis). This is also called the manubriosternal joint or Angle of
LouisAntoine Louis was a French surgeon and physiologist who was born in Metz.He was originally trained in medicine by his father, a surgeon-major at a local military hospital. As a young man he moved to Paris, where he served as gagnant-maîtrise at the Salpêtrière...
. The sternal angle is a palpable clinical landmark.
It marks the approximate level of the 2nd pair of costal cartilages and the level of the
intervertebral discIntervertebral discs lie between adjacent vertebrae in the spine. Each disc forms a cartilaginous joint to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, and acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.-Structure:...
between T4 and T5.
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The
sternal angle or 'angle of Louis' is the anterior angle formed by the junction of the
manubriumThe manubrium or manubrium sterni is the broad, upper part of the sternum. Located Ventrally with a quadrangular shape, wider superiorly and narrower inferiorly, it articulates with the clavicles and the first two ribs.-Surfaces:Its anterior surface, convex from side to side, concave from above...
and the body of the
sternumThe sternum is a long flat bone shaped like a capital 'T' located in the center of the thorax...
(the
manubriosternal junction) in the form of a secondary cartilaginous joint (symphysis). This is also called the manubriosternal joint or Angle of
LouisAntoine Louis was a French surgeon and physiologist who was born in Metz.He was originally trained in medicine by his father, a surgeon-major at a local military hospital. As a young man he moved to Paris, where he served as gagnant-maîtrise at the Salpêtrière...
. The sternal angle is a palpable clinical landmark.
It marks the approximate level of the 2nd pair of costal cartilages and the level of the
intervertebral discIntervertebral discs lie between adjacent vertebrae in the spine. Each disc forms a cartilaginous joint to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, and acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.-Structure:...
between T4 and T5. It also marks approximately the beginning and end of the
aortic archThe arch of the aorta begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side, and runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea and finally passes downward on the left...
, and the bifurcation of the
tracheaThe trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that connects to the pharynx or larynx, allowing the passage of air to the lungs. It is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium cells with mucosal goblet cells which produce mucus...
into the left and right main
bronchiA bronchus is a passage of airway in the respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs.No gas exchange takes place in this part of the lungs.-Anatomy:...
.
The angle is approximately 140 degrees.