For the vast majority of normal children, the raphe is present. The raphe is a part of the child’s sternum, located at the lower end of the sternum, and it protects the heart as well as important organs such as the stomach. In children, the xiphoid process varies in shape from slightly sharp to slightly flat. In normal children, however, the raphe is present because it is an important anatomical structure. The reason why the raphe varies in shape in children is firstly due to genetic factors and secondly due to calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency in children can cause the raphe to protrude or invaginate.