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The clinical anatomy of variations of the pectoralis minor

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Abstract

Shoulder pathology is a very common medical presentation and can be due to anatomical variations. Therefore, knowledge of variants is important for the clinician treating patients with such complaints so that misdiagnosis is minimized and iatrogenic injury prevented. A review of the literature was performed of the variant anatomy of the pectoralis minor muscle. The aim of this review is to better inform clinicians who might treat patients with shoulder pathology so that if identified, variants of the pectoralis minor muscle are better appreciated.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude [38].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific–Northwest, Lebanon, OR, USA

    Halle E. K. Burley

  2. Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Interfaculty Chair of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Robert Haładaj

  3. Department of Anatomical Dissection and Donation, Chair of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Łukasz Olewnik

  4. Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Queen Giovanna-ISUL, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Georgi P. Georgiev

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Joe Iwanaga & R. Shane Tubbs

  6. Department of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Joe Iwanaga & R. Shane Tubbs

  7. Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  8. Department of Neurosurgery, Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  9. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

    R. Shane Tubbs

Authors
  1. Halle E. K. Burley
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  2. Robert Haładaj
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  3. Łukasz Olewnik
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  4. Georgi P. Georgiev
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  5. Joe Iwanaga
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  6. R. Shane Tubbs
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Correspondence to Joe Iwanaga.

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Burley, H.E.K., Haładaj, R., Olewnik, Ł. et al. The clinical anatomy of variations of the pectoralis minor. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 645–651 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02703-y

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