Stern"son (?), n. [See Stern, n., and cf. Stemson.] (Naut.) The end of
a ship's keelson, to which the sternpost is bolted; -- called also
stern knee.
Ster"num (?), n.; pl. L. Sterna (#), E. Sternums (#). [NL., from Gr.
&?;, the breast, chest.] 1. (Anat.) A plate of cartilage, or a series
of bony or cartilaginous plates or segments, in the median line of the
pectoral skeleton of most vertebrates above fishes; the breastbone.
The sternum is connected with the ribs or the pectorial girdle, or with
both. In man it is a flat bone, broad anteriorly, narrowed behind, and
connected with the clavicles and the cartilages of the seven anterior
pairs of ribs. In most birds it has a high median keel for the
attachment of the muscles of the wings.