Xiphoid Process: The “sternum” or breastbone is a narrow, long, flat plate forming the chest front center. It matures in 3 parts – upper part or “manubrium”, a middle part, and a lower part or “xiphoid process” this is projected down the sternum. This xiphoid process started as a cartilage piece. It hardens into bone slowly until, by middle age, it is normally bonded to the sternum body. The manubrium sides and the sternum body are notched where they come together with “costal cartilages”. It joins the shoulder blades on the upper border. It normally remains a bone that is separate until middle age, when it bonds to the body of the sternum. The sternum is quite strong and needs great force to be broken. The main danger in this kind of injury is not the broken bone, but the threat that this bone can be driven into the heart that lies just beneath it.