How to Pronounce Costal Notches of Sternum

Say it like this: KOS-tal NOTCH-ez uv STER-num. The first part rhymes with 'cost,' the second part sounds like 'notches' (like small cuts), and 'sternum' rhymes with 'burn them.' Put the strongest stress on KOS in the first word.

The first syllable, KOS, gets the stress. A common mistake is stressing the second syllable and saying co-STAL, but the correct way is KOS-tal, with emphasis on the first part.

It breaks down like this: KOS-tal / NOTCH-ez / uv / STER-num. That's four separate words, each with its own syllable breaks. The whole phrase has 6 syllables total.

Costal means 'related to the ribs.' It comes from the Latin word 'costa,' which means 'rib.' Any medical term that starts with 'costal' is talking about something connected to your ribs.

Sternum is the medical name for your breastbone—the flat bone that runs down the middle of your chest. You can feel it if you touch the center of your chest.

Notches are small indentations or grooves—like little cuts or grooves along the edge of something. In this case, they're the grooves you'd find along the sides of the breastbone.

Here's an example: 'The anatomy textbook labeled the costal notches of sternum to show where the ribs connect.' This sentence shows how the term is used in medical learning.

You might hear 'intercostal' (between the ribs), 'subcostal' (below the ribs), or 'costochondral' (relating to ribs and cartilage). All of these words start with 'costal' because they all relate to the ribs.