a. Anat. [f. EPISTERN-UM (or its elements) + -AL 1.]

1

  1.  Situate upon the sternum or breast-bone. Also, pertaining to the epistemum; of the nature of an episternum. Episternal granules: ‘the rudiments of the omosternal bones’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).

2

1839–47.  Todd, Cycl. Anat., III. 838/1. This central piece [in Chelonia] is bounded anteriorly by the episternal bones. Ibid. (1859), V. 259/1. The … left carotid arteries [in man] leaving the chest through the episternal notch.

3

1872.  Mivart, Elem. Anat., 65. The ‘episternal granules’ occasionally present in man are replaced in some mammals by considerable horn-like processes.

4

  2.  quasi-sb.

5

1852.  Dana, Crust., I. 26. Beyond the episternals, the epimerals normally come next in order.

6