[The 7th sterno-costal articulation (author's transl)].

A study of 200 human thoracic anterior walls (150 of adults and 50 of children) allows to distinguish 3 types of articulations at the internal extremity of the 7th costal cartilage: a lateral sterno-costal articulation, a prexiphoïdian sterno-costal articulation and an articulation between the two 7th costal cartilages. Each type may or may not have an articulating space. The only diarthrodial articulating spaces are found at the level of the articulation between the two 7th costal cartilages. All the other articulations may be considered as symphyses which, with age, may present a non-synovial space. The different types of articulations vary with age, the 7th cartilages being closer together in the child than in the adult. In the child there is a characteristic vascular network between the sternum and the 7th costal cartilages.