A sternal closure assembly for securing first and second lateral halves of a sternum that has been longitudinally severed, the sternal closure assembly comprising: a first sliding body including a first interconnecting bridge member and at least one leg extending downwardly from the first interconnecting bridge member, the at least one leg configured to abut an exterior edge of the first lateral half of the sternum, the first interconnecting bridge member having a length and comprising a female portion, the female portion delimited in part by a base of the first interconnecting bridge member, the base including a top side comprising a plurality of upward projecting teeth arranged substantially transverse to the length of the first interconnecting bridge member; and a second sliding body telescopically mateable with the first sliding body, the second sliding body including a second interconnecting bridge member and at least one leg extending downwardly from the second interconnecting bridge member, the at least one leg configured to abut an exterior edge of the second lateral half of the sternum, the second interconnecting bridge member having a length and comprising a male portion capable of being introduced into the female portion, the second interconnecting bridge member having a bottom side comprising a plurality of downward projecting teeth engageable with the plurality of upward projecting teeth, the plurality of downward projecting teeth arranged substantially transverse to the length of the second interconnecting bridge member, when the first and second sliding bodies are mated, or telescopically mated, the plurality of upward projecting and downward projecting teeth are configured to engage with one another in a manner that only permits a telescopic shortening of the sternal closure assembly without there being a change in the position of the plurality of upward projecting teeth in relation to the base of the first interconnecting bridge member nor a change of position of the plurality of downward projecting teeth in relation to the bottom side of the second interconnecting bridge member, characterized in that the male portion includes a central body with first and second flange sections (18a, 18b) extending from opposite sides of the central body and including a plurality of spaced-apart tabs extending upwardly from a base of each of the flange sections (18a, 18b), the tabs being capable of being elastically deformed flexing in a downward direction as the male portion is introduced into the female portion resulting in a forceful engagement between the male portion and the female portion and also in a forceful engagement between the plurality of upward projecting teeth and downward projecting teeth. a first sliding body including a first interconnecting bridge member and at least one leg extending downwardly from the first interconnecting bridge member, the at least one leg configured to abut an exterior edge of the first lateral half of the sternum, the first interconnecting bridge member having a length and comprising a female portion, the female portion delimited in part by a base of the first interconnecting bridge member, the base including a top side comprising a plurality of upward projecting teeth arranged substantially transverse to the length of the first interconnecting bridge member; and a second sliding body telescopically mateable with the first sliding body, the second sliding body including a second interconnecting bridge member and at least one leg extending downwardly from the second interconnecting bridge member, the at least one leg configured to abut an exterior edge of the second lateral half of the sternum, the second interconnecting bridge member having a length and comprising a male portion capable of being introduced into the female portion, the second interconnecting bridge member having a bottom side comprising a plurality of downward projecting teeth engageable with the plurality of upward projecting teeth, the plurality of downward projecting teeth arranged substantially transverse to the length of the second interconnecting bridge member, when the first and second sliding bodies are mated, or telescopically mated, the plurality of upward projecting and downward projecting teeth are configured to engage with one another in a manner that only permits a telescopic shortening of the sternal closure assembly without there being a change in the position of the plurality of upward projecting teeth in relation to the base of the first interconnecting bridge member nor a change of position of the plurality of downward projecting teeth in relation to the bottom side of the second interconnecting bridge member, characterized in that the male portion includes a central body with first and second flange sections (18a, 18b) extending from opposite sides of the central body and including a plurality of spaced-apart tabs extending upwardly from a base of each of the flange sections (18a, 18b), the tabs being capable of being elastically deformed flexing in a downward direction as the male portion is introduced into the female portion resulting in a forceful engagement between the male portion and the female portion and also in a forceful engagement between the plurality of upward projecting teeth and downward projecting teeth.