substernal
|sub-ster-nal|
🇺🇸
/sʌbˈstɜrnl/
🇬🇧
/sʌbˈstɜːnəl/
beneath the breastbone
Etymology
'substernal' originates from Latin prefix 'sub-' meaning 'under' and from Latin 'sternum' (borrowed from Greek 'sternon') meaning 'breastbone'.
'substernal' was formed in English by combining the Latin prefix 'sub-' with the adjective 'sternal' (from Latin 'sternalis', from 'sternum'); the term entered medical English usage by the 19th century to describe location or pain under the sternum.
Initially it literally meant 'under the sternum'; over time it has remained a specific anatomical and medical descriptor for the region or symptoms beneath the sternum.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
located beneath the sternum (breastbone); relating to the area under the sternum. Commonly used in medical contexts (e.g., substernal chest pain).
The patient reported substernal chest pain that worsened with exertion.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adverb 1
adverbial form of 'substernal': in or to the area beneath the sternum; in a substernal manner or location.
The pain radiated substernally.
Last updated: 2026/01/10 12:19