- median s. incision through the midline of the sternum usually used to gain access to the heart, mediastinal structures, and great vessels.
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n.
surgical division of the breastbone (sternum), performed to allow access to the heart and its major vessels.
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ster·not·o·my (stər-notґə-me) [sterno- + -tomy] the operation of cutting through the sternum.Medical dictionary. 2011.