Left fourth costal cartilage

Looks like

The bar of cartilage joining the fourth rib to the side of the breastbone, around nipple level in men.

What it does

Links the rib to the sternum and lets the chest spring open in breathing.

Keeping it well

A frequent site of costochondritis: pain on pressing the spot. Chest pain with breathlessness or sweating is an emergency.

Related conditions

• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder