Suprasternal notch

The suprasternal notch, also known as the fossa jugularis sternalis, or jugular notch, or “neck dent” is a large, visible dip in between the neck in humans, between the clavicles, and above the manubrium of the sternum.

Suprasternal notch
Suprasternal notch (indicated by yellow circle)
The position of the suprasternal notch seen here, labelled as "jugular notch".
Details
Location	Bottom of the neck; above the manubrium of the sternum, and between the two clavicles.
Identifiers
Latin	Incisura jugularis sternalis, fossa jugularis sterni
TA	A02.3.03.004
FMA	7542
Anatomical terms of bone

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.[1] 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.

References

1. MedEd at Loyola MEDICINE/PULMONAR/PD/pstep37a.htm - Evaluative tests using the suprasternal notch

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.