Abstract
Anomalous disposition of pectoral muscles was encountered in an adult female cadaver on the left side. A prominent cleft separating the sternocostal and clavicular portions of the pectoralis major was noticed. The fibers of pectoralis major were partially fused with the deltoid, resulting in obliteration of the deltopectoral groove. Interestingly, cephalic vein was seen traversing superficial to the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major and pierced it to drain into the axillary vein. The pectoralis minor was inserted mainly on the coracoid process and few fibers were found blending with the coracobrachialis and short head of biceps brachii. Further, pectoralis minimus, a rare anatomic variant, was also observed lying superior to pectoralis minor. It was innervated by a twig from the lateral pectoral nerve at its superficial surface. Awareness of possibility of such anomalous muscles is important for surgeons operating on the chest wall.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Denti M, Facchini R, Peretti G (1985) Partial aplasia of the pectoralis major with an anomalous distal insertion: Two case reports. J Pediatr Orthop 5, 489–91.
Irvine ED, Tilley JB (1937) Congenital absence of the pectoral muscles. Arch Dis Child 4, 123–6.
Jones HW (1926) Congenital absence of pectoral muscles. Br Med J 6, 59–60.
Karacagil S, Eriksson I (1987) Entrapment of the axillary artery by anomalous muscle. Acta Chir Scand 153, 633–4.
Kumar H, Rath G, Sharma M, Kohli M, Rani B (2003) Bilateral sternalis with unusual left sided presentation: A clinical perspective. Yonsai Med J 44, 719–22.
Landry SO (1958) The phylogenetic significance of the chondroepitrochlearis muscle and its accompanying pectoral abnormalities. J Anat 92, 57–61.
Lee YH, Chun SI (1991) Congenital absence of pectoralis major: A case report and isokinetic analysis of shoulder motion. Yonsei Med J 32, 87–90.
Manstein CH, Manstein G, Somers RG, Barwick WJ (1985) Use of pectoralis minor muscle in immediate reconstruction of the breast. Plast Reconstr Surg 76, 566–9.
Mosconi T, Kamath S (2003) Bilateral asymmetric deficiency of the pectoralis major muscle. Clin Anat 16, 346–9.
Muscolino G, Leo E, Sacchini V, Bedini AV, Luini A (1988) Resectable breast cancer: Axillary dissection sparing pectoralis muscles and nerves. Eur J Surg Oncol 14, 429–33.
Samuel E (1945) Congenital absence of the pectoralis major. Br J Radiol 18, 20–1.
Sawada M, Ishibashi Y, Suzuki T, Chiba S (1991) Case report on the pectoralis quadratus and the pectoralis intermedius muscles. Acta Anat Nippon 66, 99–105.
Snell RS (2008) Clinical Anatomy, 8th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, New Delhi.
Terzis JK (1989) Pectoralis minor: A unique muscle for correction of facial palsy. Plast Reconstr Surg 83, 767–76.
Turgut H, Anil A, Peker T, Barut C (2000) Insertion abnormality of bilateral pectoralis minimus. Surg Radiol Anat 22, 55–7.
William PL (2000) Gray’s Anatomy, 38th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
Yamasaki M (1989) Anatomical study on 2 cases of the congenital partial defect of major and minor muscles. Anat Anz 168, 423–32.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Soni, S., Rath, G., Suri, R. et al. Anomalous pectoral musculature. Anato Sci Int 83, 310–313 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-073X.2008.00234.x
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-073X.2008.00234.x