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Muscles of the Thorax

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Live Imaging and Analysis of Muscle Contractions in Drosophila Embryo

Live Imaging and Analysis of Muscle Contractions in Drosophila Embryo

Published on: July 9, 2019

Anomalous pectoral musculature.

Simmi Soni¹, Gayatri Rath, Rajesh Suri

¹Department Of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Anatomical Science International

|January 23, 2009

Summary

An unusual arrangement of chest muscles was found in a cadaver, including a split pectoralis major and an extra pectoralis minimus muscle. These anatomical variations highlight the importance of recognizing anomalies in chest wall surgery.

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Area of Science:

Anatomy
Surgical Anatomy
Human Morphology

Background:

The pectoralis major and minor muscles are key components of the chest wall and shoulder girdle.
Anatomical variations in these muscles can occur but are often rare.
Understanding normal and anomalous anatomy is crucial for surgical procedures involving the thoracic region.

Observation:

A detailed dissection of an adult female cadaver revealed significant anomalies in the left pectoral musculature.
A distinct cleft was observed within the pectoralis major, separating its sternocostal and clavicular heads.
The pectoralis major fibers showed partial fusion with the deltoid muscle, obscuring the deltopectoral groove.

Findings:

The cephalic vein followed an aberrant course, passing superficial to the clavicular pectoralis major before penetrating it to join the axillary vein.
The pectoralis minor exhibited an atypical insertion, primarily onto the coracoid process, with some fibers blending into adjacent muscles.
A rare pectoralis minimus muscle was identified superior to the pectoralis minor, innervated by the lateral pectoral nerve.

Implications:

These pectoral muscle anomalies, including the pectoralis minimus, present unique anatomical challenges.
Surgeons must be aware of such variations to prevent intraoperative complications during chest wall and shoulder surgeries.
Detailed anatomical knowledge aids in accurate surgical planning and execution, improving patient outcomes.