Oluseun Olufade, MD, is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at the Emory School of Medicine. The sternum protects your heart and lungs by acting as a shield in your chest.

Pectus carinatum, also called a protruding sternum or pigeon chest, is a rare deformity in children. It causes the chest and ribs to stick out further than they should. Only one or two children out of ...

Slipping rib syndrome is a medical condition where one or more of the lower ribs become hypermobile, often resulting in pain and discomfort. This occurs when the cartilage that connects the ribs to ...

Costochondritis is the inflammation of the cartilage of the rib cage, which causes chest pain near the sternum. The cause of costochondritis is often unknown but may be the result of repetitive ...

There are two main types of chest wall deformity: pectus carinatum, or pigeon chest, and pectus excavatum, or funnel chest. The former pushes out; the latter sinks in. Though there can be a genetic ...

Chest tumors can be benign or malignant. Both types of tumors can cause similar symptoms, such as pain or swelling in the chest area. The chest wall forms the protective casing for the heart, lungs, ...

Atypical chest pain usually feels like a burning or stabbing pain in your chest. Your heart isn’t always responsible. Lung conditions, acid reflux, or cartilage inflammation can also cause chest pain.

Medically reviewed by Soma Mandal, MD Key Takeaways Burning in the chest is usually caused by a non-life-threatening medical condition. This is often due to heartburn or GERD, with diet and lifestyle ...

Retrosternal chest pain can occur for various reasons, including cardiac or heart-related issues and noncardiac conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Retrosternal chest pain ...