| pubmed-article:8489051 | pubmed:abstractText | A radiological investigation of the sternum of the sheep demonstrated distinct growth phases. Forty Merino sheep of mixed breeds were distributed into 4 age groups of 0, 45, 105 and 270 days. Each animal was radiographed in sternal and lateral recumbency. Measurements were made from the radiographs. The sternebrae are rectangular in newborn and become concave in adult. The curvature of the sternum is 16 to 17 degrees at day 0 and 27-28 degrees at day 270. The nucleus of ossification was seen in all sternebrae at 45 days of age, they were present only in the most caudal sternebrae at 105 days. | lld:pubmed |
