16 years ago i fell off a ladder and landed on my chest, breaking off half of the gristly bit below my sternum( or is that my sternum..in which case I have only half a sternum) I later went for an acupuncture treatment, and the master was so fascinated by what he called my bifurcated sternum that he took a photograph of it! I am just puzzled by our need for this bit of gristle. I have cracked ribs ( as I did last week) several times and am really looking to understand better the whole ribcage issue.. this most recent crack is very high up above my left breast, level with my armpit.. any arm movement is painful..as is breathing..it helps if I press the area hard with my left hand , but with a job as a cook, lifting and using my left arm is almost impossible to avoid. will I lengthen the time of recovery if I go back to work tomorrow after a week's holiday? and what comments do you have about this bifurcated sternum? I hope you can help..