Anatomical variants · USMLE Step 1

A patient is diagnosed with pectus excavatum. This chest wall variant involves abnormal development of which structure?

  1. Manubrium
  2. Xiphoid process
  3. Costal cartilages
  4. Sternal body
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Correct answer: Costal cartilages

Pectus excavatum is caused by overgrowth of costal cartilages, leading to sternal depression. It may impact cardiopulmonary function in severe cases.

Difficulty: Medium Question 15 of 20

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