Relationship of Sternal Foramina to Vital Structures of the Chest: A Computed Tomographic Study
Figure 1
Computed tomographic images of a typical sternal foramen. The axial slices (b) are showing the close contact to vital structures (lung and heart). There is a potential risk of life-threatening complications (pneumothorax/cardiac tamponade), if a needle is inserted unintentionally through this foramen.
