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Sternal end of the clavicle

The sternal end of the clavicle is the medial, enlarged portion of the clavicle that articulates with the manubrium of the sternum and the first costal cartilage, forming the sternoclavicular joint. It has a broad, quadrangular shape with a convex anterior surface and concave posterior surface. This articulation is reinforced by the sternoclavicular, interclavicular, and costoclavicular ligaments, allowing stability while permitting a wide range of shoulder movements. The sternal end also serves as an important attachment site for muscles and ligaments of the neck and thorax.

Synonyms

  • Medial end of clavicle

  • Clavicular sternal extremity

  • Sternoclavicular articulation surface

Function

  • Forms the sternoclavicular joint, the only true synovial joint connecting the upper limb to the axial skeleton

  • Allows multidirectional shoulder movement (elevation, depression, protraction, retraction, rotation)

  • Provides structural support and stability to the shoulder girdle

  • Serves as an attachment point for the sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis major muscles, as well as ligaments stabilizing the sternoclavicular joint

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone of the sternal end appears low signal (dark)

  • Bone marrow inside shows intermediate to high signal, depending on fatty content

  • Sternoclavicular joint space appears as a low-signal gap, surrounded by enhancing ligaments

T2-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone remains low signal

  • Marrow is variable signal, with edema appearing hyperintense

  • Joint fluid appears bright (hyperintense), outlining the sternoclavicular articulation

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Suppresses fat, highlighting bone marrow edema, joint effusion, or ligamentous injury

  • Normal cortex remains low signal; pathology (fracture, arthritis, infection) appears hyperintense

T1 Post-Contrast (Gadolinium-enhanced):

  • Enhances synovium, capsule, or inflammatory changes in the sternoclavicular joint

  • Helps differentiate infectious arthritis, inflammatory arthropathy, or tumor infiltration

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Sternal end of clavicle appears as a dense cortical bone structure with visible trabecular pattern

  • Joint space is seen as a narrow gap between clavicle and manubrium

  • Excellent for detecting fractures, cortical irregularities, osteophytes, or calcification

Contrast-enhanced CT (CECT):

  • Improves visualization of soft tissue pathology around the joint

  • Useful in evaluating joint infection, tumor involvement, or mediastinal extension

  • High-resolution reconstructions help assess joint alignment and integrity

MRI images

Sternal end of the clavicle anatomy MRI CORONAL image -img-00000-00000

CT images

Sternal end of the clavicle anatomy CT axial image -img-00000-00000

CT images

Sternal end of the clavicle anatomy CT CORONAL image -img-00000-00000