Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. The posterior and smallest of the three divisions of the sternum, below the gladiolus and the manubrium. Also called xiphoid, xiphoid process.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The hindmost segment or division of the sternum, corresponding to the xiphoid appendage or ensiform cartilage of man. It is of various shapes in different animals, sometimes forked or double, there being a right and a left xiphisternum, as in some lizards. It succeeds the segment or segments called the mesosternum. See cuts under
mesosternum and sternum. - n. The xiphiplastron of a turtle. See second cut under Chelonia.
Wiktionary
- n. The xiphoid process, a small cartilaginous extension to the lower part of the sternum, usually ossified in the adult human.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. The posterior segment, or extremity, of the sternum; -- sometimes called
metasternum ,ensiform cartilage ,ensiform process , orxiphoid process . - n. The xiphiplastron.
Etymologies
- Ancient Greek ξίφος (xiphos, "sword") + English -i- (in place of the etymologically consistent -o-) + English sternum (Wiktionary)
- Greek xiphos, sword + sternum. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“There is a pre-omosternum (o. st.) and a post-omosternum, sometimes termed a xiphisternum (x.).”
“I immediately thought of pangolins on reading the news about the Tube-lipped nectar bat Anoura fistulata: the pangolin tongue 'roots' on the xiphisternum, a rod-like cartilaginous extension of the breastbone located on the ventral surface of the abdomen.”
“Cut away xiphisternum, and then cut through clavicles and coracoids on either side, and remove ventral part of shoulder girdle, to expose the heart.”
“The sternum consists of segments, the sternebrae (st.); anteriorly there is a bony manubrium (mb.), posteriorly a thin cartilaginous plate, the xiphisternum (xi.).”
“The xiphisternum will probably be cut in this operation.”
“ Dog − Following premedication, patient administered with general anesthetic, and restrained on its back − An area from xiphisternum to pelvis is shaved and surgically prepped − Sterile drapes are applied − In cat, incision is made approx. half-way between the umbilicus and the pelvis − In dog, incision is made slightly more cranially - beginning at the umbilicus and extending caudally − Incised: skin, subQ tissue, peritoneum −”
“You're a cryogenic heart attack {encased in flame} and laced with memory's sweetest secret name spoken and winding icily down the same backbone that you freeze with a fireburn hum; to feel you breathe upon my xiphisternum is like a dream from heaven above This regular news article promises to make you giggle, chortle, and laugh your ass off.”
“You're a cryogenic heart attack {encased in flame} and laced with memory's sweetest secret name spoken and winding icily down the same backbone that you freeze with a fireburn hum; to feel you breathe upon my xiphisternum is like a dream from heaven above”
“The sternum includes eight elements with a T-shaped manubrium, six sternebrae, and an elongate xiphisternum.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘xiphisternum’.
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250 Further Spelling Words
Another compilation of spelling words suitable for intermediate to advanced spellers.
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the omnibus
preponderance, idioglossia, acumen, heteronym, flux, anacoluthon, metonymy, impetus, constellation, exegesis, revelatory, cloistered and 877 more...
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Quenelles of Random Palavery
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words I added first
oscular, monozygotic, xiphisternum, lightbox, tympanic, snowshed, riverbed, newborn, stillbirth, whiteness, unkindness, richness and 28 more...
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