Sternum
The sternum is an unpaired series of eight bones that forms the bottom of the thorax. The sternum is turned up in the front and down at the back forming a “c” shape when viewed from the side. The sternebrae are joined by short pieces of cartilage, the intersternebral cartilage. The sternal ends of the ribs articulate with the intersternebral cartilages, with the exception of the first pair, which articulate with the first sternebrae. The sternum of the canine is seen to be laterally compressed, so that its width is in a vertical plane, and its thickness is in a horizontal one. The first and last sternebrae are unique. The cranial half of the first sternebrae is expanded and bears lateral projections for the attachment of the first costal cartilages. Further, the first sternebrae is longer than the others and is known as the manubrium. The last sternebrae, called the xiphoid process, is widened horizontally and thin vertically. A thin cartilaginous plate can be seen to prolong the xiphoid process caudally.