What do you need to know about the xiphoid process?
Other factors that contribute to xiphoid process pain include:
- heart disease
- overeating
- lifting weights
What does the xiphoid process do?
The xiphoid process slowly ossifies throughout childhood and adulthood until around age 40 when all of its cartilage is replaced by bone. Get the free app for Members. The xiphoid process, or xiphisternum or metasternum, is a small cartilaginous process (extension) of the lower part of the sternum which is usually ossified in the adult human.
How to use xiphoid process in a sentence?
xiphoid in a sentence - Use xiphoid in a sentence and its meaning 1. In humans linea alba runs from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis. 2. Both the Greek derived xiphoid and its Latin equivalent ensiform mean'swordlike '. click for more sentences of xiphoid...
Can you get cancer in your xiphoid process?
Xiphoid Process Cancer. A protruding Xiphoid Process is often mistaken for a tumor, hernia or even cancer. However, the lump near the end of the sternum is generally harmless although care should be taken so that the extension does not break off completely.
What organ is behind your xiphoid process?
This is when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Acid reflux can irritate the lining of the esophagus, and since the esophagus is located behind the breastbone, xiphoid process pain can develop along with reflux symptoms.
What muscle is below the xiphoid process?
The xiphoid process is involved in the attachment of many muscles, including the abdominal diaphragm, a muscle necessary for normal breathing. It also anchors the rectus abdominis muscles ("abs").
What organ is at the bottom of the sternum?
One important organ in the chest is the thymus, a small butterfly-shaped organ located between the heart and the sternum, or breastbone. This organ belongs to the immune system, and its job is to produce T cells, a type of white blood cell.
What is attached to the xiphoid process?
The xiphoid process provides an attachment site for the diaphragm, the most important muscle of respiration, and the abdominal muscular including the external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis, and rectus abdominis muscles.
What is the lump under my sternum?
An epigastric hernia usually causes a bump to occur in the area below your sternum, or breastbone, and above your belly button. This bump is caused by a mass of fat that has pushed through the hernia. The raised area may be visible all the time or only when you cough, sneeze, or laugh.
What is pain just below sternum?
Pain felt just behind or below the sternum is called substernal pain and is sometimes caused by gastrointestinal problems. Some of the most common causes of sternum and substernal pain are: costochondritis. collarbone injuries.
What causes pain under sternum after eating?
Your sternum sits right in front of several major digestive organs. Conditions that affect your esophagus, stomach, and intestines can all cause sternum pain. Having heartburn or acid reflux after a meal are the most common gastrointestinal causes for sternum pain.
What causes xiphoid process inflammation?
Xiphoid syndrome involves painful swelling and discomfort of the xiphoid process of the sternum [1]. Inflammation of the xiphoid process, causing xiphodynia, arises from mechanical injury to that anatomic region. The prevalence of xiphoid syndrome is not well known as there is limited literature on this rare condition.
What does a lump in the middle of your chest mean?
A painless lump on the chest can most commonly be caused by a skin condition like an abscess, wart, or cysts. Rare causes for a painless chest wall lump include non cancerous cell growth known as lipoma, dermatofibroma, or breast cancer.
What could a lump on my rib cage be?
The most common reason for a lump forming on the ribs is something known as a lipoma, which is a collection of fatty tissue. This type of lump can lie beneath the surface of the skin covering a rib. They are usually painless, freely mobile under your fingers and stay the same over time.
What Is The Xiphoid Process?
Your xiphoid process is a small cartilaginous extension at the lower end of your breastbone, or sternum. At birth, it is a thin, roughly triangular...
Symptoms of Xiphoid Process Pain
Conditions that result in aches and pain in your xiphoid process can cause various types of symptoms. Xiphodynia can cause pain directly in the cen...
Causes of Xiphoid Process Pain
Let’s look in more detail at what can be the reason for xiphoid process pain and what you can do to relieve the pain naturally.
How Doctors Diagnose Xiphoid Process Pain
As mentioned in this article, it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose xiphoid process pain. One reason is that there is a risk that any chest p...
How to Treat Xiphoid Process Pain
There are various ways to treat xiphoid process pain naturally depending on the cause of xiphoidalgia.
Xiphoid Process Pain – When to See A Doctor
Even though xiphoid process pain is harmless in itself and doesn’t usually cause any other complication other than discomfort, you should never ign...
Overview
The xiphoid process /ˈzaɪfɔɪd/, or xiphisternum or metasternum, is a small cartilaginous process (extension) of the inferior (lower) part of the sternum, which is usually ossified in the adult human. It may also be referred to as the ensiform process. Both the Greek-derived xiphoid and its Latin equivalent ensiform mean 'swordlike' or 'sword-shaped'
Structure
Function
Clinical significance
Etymology
The word xiphoid derives from the Greek word xiphos for straight sword, the tip of which the process somewhat resembles. The xiphoid process is a translation of Latin processus xiphoides. The writings of the Greek physician Galen refer to Os xyphoides a translation of ξιφοειδές ὀστοῦν. Classical Latin os and Ancient Greek ὀστοῦν both mean bone, while ξιφοειδές means sword-shaped.
Additional images
• Position of xiphoid process (shown in red)
• Close up.
• Shape of a xiphoid process (animation)