Suprasternal notch

Suprasternal notch
Suprasternal notch (indicated by yellow circle)
Anterolateral view of head and neck. (Jugular notch labeled at bottom center.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Incisura jugularis sternalis, fossa jugularis sterni
TA98	A02.3.03.004
TA2	1132
FMA	7542
Anatomical terms of bone

The suprasternal notch, also known as the fossa jugularis sternalis or jugular notch is a large, visible dip in between the neck and the two collarbones of the human anatomy. The jugular notch is found at the superior border of the manubrium of the sternum, between the clavicular notches.

Clinical significance

Intrathoracic pressure is measured by using a transducer held in such a way over the body that an actuator engages the soft tissue that is located above the suprasternal notch. Arcot J. Chandrasekhar, MD of Loyola University, Chicago, is the author of an evaluative test for the aorta using the suprasternal notch. The test can help recognize the following conditions:

• Aneurysm
• Dissecting aneurysm
• Atherosclerosis
• Hypertension

To carry out this test it is necessary to place an index finger or middle finger on the notch and palpate it. A prominent pulse may be indicative of an uncoiled aorta, arch aneurysm, or a tortuous blood vessel. The most likely cause of a suprasternal pulse in an adult is an aortic arch aneurysm, while the most likely cause in a child is coarctation of the aorta.

External links

• The Suprasternal Notch site with (humorous) suggestions on suppressing suprasternal notch fetishism.
• IMDb ucipital mapilary quote in Hitchcock's Suspicion.
• IMDb ucipital mapilary movie connection in Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
• IMDb suprasternal notch quote in The English Patient
• blog entry on Ucipital Mapilary citing film dialogue.