Standing, sitting, or lying supine
If you wish to palpate on the skin, provide a private room for assessment. Ask the patient if he/she is willing to uncover the area ñ removing the shirt for men and wearing a halter top, bathing suit, etc. for women. While the skin can not be viewed with clothes covering the area, the sternum usually can be palpated over clothing.
Anterior to the patient.
(Guide the patient to drape appropriately.) Please stand. May I touch the breastbone, or bone in the front of your chest? (and point to the area).
Guide the patient to drape appropriately. Place your fingers on the sternum and gently touch the extent of the sternum.
The sternum has three parts, the superior manubrium, the middle body, and the inferior xiphoid process. The manubrium has a palpable jugular notch superiorly and laterally articulates with the medial end of the clavicles. The junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum is the sternal angle, which often is slightly prominent at the level of the attachment of the costal cartilage of rib 2 to the sternum.
The sternum has three parts, the superior manubrium, the middle body, and the inferior xiphoid process. The manubrium has a palpable jugular notch superiorly and laterally articulates with the medial end of the clavicles. The junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum is the sternal angle, which often is slightly prominent at the level of the attachment of the costal cartilage of rib 2 to the sternum.
VH - Skeleton of the trunk, neck and head
On one side, pectoralis major, subclavius