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Table 1 Sternal attachments and innervation [8]. Table 1 lists the soft-tissues that attach to the xiphoid and their innervation.

From: Xiphodynia: A diagnostic conundrum

Aspect

Attachment

Innervation

Anterior

The Linea Alba Fibres of Rectus Abdominis

Lower intercostal nerves

Lateral

The aponeurosis of the three flat muscles (external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis)

Lower intercostal nerves, Obliquus internus and Transversus also receive filaments from the anterior branch of the iliohypogastric and sometimes from the ilioinguinal nerves

 

Anterior costoxiphoid ligament

Lower intercostal nerves

Posterior

Posterior costoxiphoid ligament

Lower intercostal nerves

 

Fibres from the diaphragm

Phrenic (C3,4,5), lower intercostal nerves

 

Fibres from Transverse thoracis

Lower intercostal nerves