sterna
/'stə:nəm/
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Definition
- Noun:
- The plural form of sternum: In anatomy, "sterna" is the plural of "sternum," referring to the long flat bone located in the center of the chest, to which the ribs are attached.
- A genus of birds: In taxonomy, "Sterna" (capitalized) is a genus of seabirds in the subfamily Sterninae, commonly known as terns.
Usage Examples
Noun (Anatomy):
- The rib cages of birds and humans both contain sterna. (The chest bones of birds and humans both contain breastbones.)
- The surgeon examined the patient's fractured sterna. (The surgeon examined the patient's fractured breastbones.)
Noun (Taxonomy):
- The genus Sterna includes the common tern. (The bird genus Sterna includes the common tern.)
- We observed several Sterna diving for fish. (We observed several terns diving for fish.)
Advanced Usage
In technical/medical writing: The plural "sterna" is standard in anatomical descriptions involving multiple subjects or comparative anatomy.
- The study compared the sterna of various avian species. (The study compared the breastbones of various bird species.)
In zoological context: When capitalized, "Sterna" is always treated as a singular proper noun (the genus name) but takes a plural verb when referring to multiple birds of this genus as a group.
- Sterna are found in coastal regions worldwide. (Terns are found in coastal regions worldwide.)
Variants and Related Words
Sternum (n): The singular form; the breastbone.
- The sternum protects the heart. (The breastbone protects the heart.)
Sternal (adj): Relating to the sternum.
- The sternal region was sore after the surgery. (The area of the breastbone was sore after the surgery.)
Synonyms
- Breastbone(s): A common synonym for sternum/sterna in an anatomical context.
- Terns: The common name for birds of the genus .
Notes on Different Meanings
- The meaning is entirely dependent on context. In a medical or biological text, "sterna" likely refers to anatomical bones. In an ornithological text, "Sterna" (capitalized) refers to the bird genus. The uncapitalized form is almost exclusively the anatomical plural.