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Classification of unusual insertion of the pectoralis minor muscle

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Abstract

Purpose

The pectoralis minor muscle (PMi) generally originates from the third, fourth, and fifth ribs and inserts on the medial and superior margins of the anterior portion of the coracoid process. Variations in the shape and attachment point of the PMi could cause discomfort in the shoulders. The aim of this study was to observe the types of morphological insertion patterns and attachment sites of the PMi.

Methods

Seventy-four sides of fresh, embalmed Korean (42 sides; mean age 78 years) and Thai (32 sides; mean age 78 years) cadavers were dissected to analyze the morphological insertion types and attachment sites of the PMi.

Results

Unusual insertion patterns were evident in about 23% of the samples. When the portion of the PMi tendon ran over the coracoid process, the most common attachment site was the glenohumeral joint capsule. We also confirmed the attachment of the PMi to the clavicle. Costal attachments of the PMi that extend from the second rib to the fourth rib were observed frequently as well.

Conclusions

Unusual insertion patterns of the PMi are common. Some authors consider that tendon attachment to the joint capsule can cause shoulder pain. In addition, the PMi tendon could be utilized in acromioclavicular joint reconstruction. Surgeons need to be aware of the possibility of a PMi variant being found during surgery even when this is not visible in magnetic resonance or ultrasound imaging.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No.2018R1A5A7023490).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Human Identification Research Institute, BK21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, South Korea

    Kang-Woo Lee, Hyung-Jin Lee, Hee-Jin Kim & Kyung-Seok Hu

  2. Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, South Korea

    You-Jin Choi

  3. Department of Anatomy, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea

    Young-Chun Gil

  4. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chula Soft Cadaver Surgical Training Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Tanvaa Tansatit

Authors
  1. Kang-Woo Lee
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  2. You-Jin Choi
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  3. Hyung-Jin Lee
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  4. Young-Chun Gil
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  5. Hee-Jin Kim
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  6. Tanvaa Tansatit
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  7. Kyung-Seok Hu
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Contributions

K-SH: project/project development, manuscript editing. K-WL: project/project development, data collection, analysis, manuscript writing. Y-JC: data collection, providing anatomical opinion. H-JL: data collection, providing anatomical opinion. Y-CG: data collection, providing anatomical opinion, data analysis. H-JK: providing anatomical opinion. TT: providing clinical opinion and practical reference.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kyung-Seok Hu.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Lee, KW., Choi, YJ., Lee, HJ. et al. Classification of unusual insertion of the pectoralis minor muscle. Surg Radiol Anat 40, 1357–1361 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2107-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2107-0

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