Pectoralis major muscle

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Pectoralis major
Superficial muscles of the chest and front of the arm.
Sobo 1909 245.png
The trunk viewed from the front, showing the pectoralis major to the right. (To the left it is removed showing underlying structures, among other the pectoralis minor.)
Latin Musculus pectoralis major
Origin Clavicular head: anterior border of the medial half of the clavicle.
Sternocostal head: anterior surface of the sternum, the superior six costal cartilages, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle
Insertion Lateral lip of the bicipital groove of the humerus
(anteromedial proximal humerus)
pectoral branch of the thoracoacromial trunk
lateral pectoral nerve and medial pectoral nerve
Clavicular head: C5 and C6
Sternocostal head: C7, C8 and T1
Actions Clavicular head: flexes the humerus
Sternocostal head: extends the humerus
As a whole, adducts and medially rotates the humerus. It also draws the scapula anteriorly and inferiorly.
Gray's p.436
MeSH A02.633.567.775
TA A04.4.01.002
FMA 9627
Anatomical terms of muscle

The pectoralis major (/ˌpɛktəˈrlɨs ˈmər/) (from Latin: pectus, breast) is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest (anterior) of the human body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female. Underneath the pectoralis major is the pectoralis minor, a thin, triangular muscle. In sports as well as bodybuilding, the pectoral muscles may colloquially be referred to as "pecs".


It arises from the anterior surface of the sternal half of the clavicle; from breadth of the half of the anterior surface of the sternum, as low down as the attachment of the cartilage of the sixth or seventh rib; from the cartilages of all the true ribs, with the exception, frequently, of the first or seventh and from the aponeurosis of the abdominal external oblique muscle.[1][2]

From this extensive origin the fibers converge toward their insertion; those arising from the clavicle pass obliquely downward and outwards (laterally), and are usually separated from the rest by a slight interval; those from the lower part of the sternum, and the cartilages of the lower true ribs, run upward and laterally, while the middle fibers pass horizontally.

They all end in a flat tendon, about 5 cm in breadth, which is inserted into the lateral lip of the bicipital groove of the humerus.[clarification needed]


The pectoralis major receives dual motor innervation by the medial pectoral nerve and the lateral pectoral nerve, also known as the lateral anterior thoracic nerve. One route of innervation of the pectoralis major originates in the C7, C8 and T1 nerve roots which merge to form the lower trunk of the brachial plexus. The fibers continue in the anterior division of the lower trunk, become the medial cord, and exit the medial cord as the medial pectoral nerve. The medial pectoral nerve then communicates the action potential across the neuromuscular junction by releasing acetylcholine into the neuromuscular junction, inciting a proportional muscle contraction of the sternalis head of the pectoralis major. The second source of innervation of the pectoralis major originates from the C5 and C6 nerve roots which merge to form the upper trunk, splits off into the anterior division of the upper trunk which joins with the middle trunk to form the lateral cord. The lateral pectoral nerve branches off of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus and is distributed over the deep surface of the pectoralis major. At the neuromuscular junction, the lateral pectoral nerve provides motor input to the clavicular head of the pectoralis major.

The sensory feedback from the pectoralis major follows the reverse path, returning via first-order neurons to the spinal nerves at C5, C6, C8, and T1 through the posterior rami.[3] After the synapse in the posterior horn of the spinal cord, sensory information concerning movement of the muscle, proprioception, and pressure then travels through a second-order neuron in the dorsal column medial lemniscus tract to the medulla. There, the fibers decussate to form the medial lemniscus which carries the sensory information the rest of the way to the thalamus, the "gateway to the cortex". The thalamus diverts some sensory information to the cerebellum and the basal nuclei to complete the motor feedback loop while some sensory information ascends directly to the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe of the brain via third-order neurons. Sensory information for the pectoralis major is processed in the superior portion of the sensory homunculus, adjacent to the longitudinal fissure which divides the two hemispheres of the brain.

Electromyography suggests that it consists of at least six groups of muscle fibres that can be independently coordinated by the central nervous system.[4]


This tendon consists of two laminae, placed one in front of the other, and usually blended together below.

  • The anterior lamina, which is thicker, receives the clavicular and the uppermost sternal fibers. They are inserted in the same order as that in which they arise: the most lateral of the clavicular fibers are inserted at the upper part of the anterior lamina; the uppermost sternal fibers pass down to the lower part of the lamina which extends as low as the tendon of the Deltoid and joins with it.


The posterior lamina reaches higher on the humerus than the anterior one, and from it an expansion is given off which covers the intertubercular groove of the humerus and blends with the capsule of the shoulder-joint.



Absence of sternocostal head of right pectoralis major associated with compensatory hypertrophy of latissimus dorsi is not rare.[citation needed] It is revealed on pressing downwards with the arms.

The more frequent variations include greater or less extent of attachment to the ribs and sternum, varying size of the abdominal part or its absence, greater or less extent of separation of sternocostal and clavicular parts, fusion of clavicular part with deltoid, and decussation in front of the sternum. Deficiency or absence of the sternocostal part is not uncommon and more frequent than absence of the clavicular part.[citation needed] Poland syndrome is a rare congenital condition in which the whole muscle is missing. This may accompany absence of the breast in females. The sternalis muscle may be a variant from of the pectoralis major or the rectus abdominis.


The pectoralis major has four actions which are primarily responsible for movement of the shoulder joint.[5] The first action is flexion of the humerus, as in throwing a ball side-arm, and in lifting a child. Secondly, it adducts the humerus, as when flapping the arms. Thirdly, it rotates the humerus medially, as occurs when arm-wrestling. The pectoralis major is also responsible for keeping the arm attached to the trunk of the body.[5][6] It has two different parts which are responsible for different actions. The clavicular part is close to the deltoid muscle and contributes to flexion, horizontal adduction, and inward rotation of the humerus. When at an approximately 110 degree angle,[citation needed] it contributes to adduction of the humerus. The sternocostal part is antagonistic to the clavicular part contributing to downward and forward movement of the arm and inward rotation when accompanied by adduction. The sternal fibers can also contribute to extension, but not beyond anatomical position.[7]

Clinical signifiance[edit]

Injuries and imaging[edit]

Tears of the pectoralis major are rare and typically affect otherwise healthy individuals. Most lesions are located at the musculotendinous junction and result from violent, eccentric contraction of the muscle, such as during bench press.[8] A less frequent rupture site is the muscle belly, usually as a result of a direct blow. In developed countries, most lesions occur in male athletes, especially those practicing contact sports and weight-lifting. Women are less susceptible to these tears because of larger tendon-to-muscle diameter, greater muscular elasticity, and less energetic injuries.[9] The injury is characterized by pain in the chest wall, bruising and loss of strength of the muscle. High grade partial or full thickness tears warrant surgery if function is to be preserved, particularly in the athletic population. Most patients are able to return to activity following surgery with high patient satisfaction and slightly reduced strength compared to pre-injury.[8] Both US[10] and MRI[11] are useful to confirm the diagnosis, location and extent of a tear, though the first may be more cost-effective in experienced hands.

Poland syndrome[edit]

Poland syndrome is a congenital anomaly in which there is a malformation of the chest causing the pectoralis major on one side of the body to be absent. Other characteristics of this disease are "unilateral shortening of the index, long, and ring fingers, syndactyly of the affected digits, hypoplasia of the hand, and the absence of the sternocostal portion of the ipsilateral pectoralis major muscle".[12] Although the absence of a pectoralis major is not life-threatening, it will have an effect on the person with Poland's syndrome. Adduction and medial rotation of the arm will be much harder to accomplish without the pectoralis major. The latissimus dorsi and teres major also aid in adduction and medial rotation of the arm, so they may be able to compensate for the lack of extra muscle. However, some patients with Poland's syndrome may also be lacking these muscles, which make these actions nearly impossible.

Researchers from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea reported a case of congenital absence of pectoralis major in 1990. According to Kakulas and Adams, pectoralis major is the most frequently congenitally absent muscle. The case involved a 22-year-old marine who had asymmetrical configuration of chest wall who had never experienced difficulties performing daily activities, but who experienced difficulties in the military camp. He had difficulty in some training activities especially those such as throwing a grenade or rope climbing. During a surgery performed to correct the sternal depression, it was found that the right pectoralis major was totally absent. However, previous physical exams did not show deficiencies in muscle strength as the right shoulder was good for flexion, adduction, horizontal adduction and internal rotation. Moreover, his pain and touch sensation were normal. X-rays were also performed and showed normal pictures of the chest's bones. The fact that the absence of pectoralis major did not cause functional loss in ordinary activities in this case of congenital absence showed that other surrounding muscles played a compensation role.[13]

Other diseases[edit]

Pectoralis major muscle in rare occasions may develop intramuscular lipomas. Such rare tumors may mimic malignant breast tumors as they look like enlargements of the breasts. They are well-encapsulated radiolucent tumours of fat density. Their location can be accurately identified through computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The treatment in these cases involves complete surgical excision because of the risk of liposarcoma they post especially large intramuscular liposomas. Partial excision is risky because recurrence may occur.[14]


A variety of resistance exercises can be used to train the pectoralis major, including bench pressing (using dumbbells, barbells or machines at various angles such as decline, incline and flat where the hips are above, below and level with the head respectively), push ups, flyes (using dumbbells or machines at either flat or inclined angles), cable crossovers or dips. One of the most commonly used ways to strengthen this muscle group is to perform push ups.[15][16]

The pectoralis can also be trained through a variety of sports as well as by all four Olympic styles of swimming, i.e. the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and front crawl. The anaerobic work capacity of the pectoralis is a major determinant of swimming speed, whereas swimming endurance is more influenced by the aerobic capacity of the deltoid muscle (apart from overall cardiopulmonary aerobic capacity).

Additional images[edit]

See also[edit]

  • Pectoralis minor - an inferior, smaller muscle to the pectoralis major.
  • Sternalis - an accessory muscle found in some individuals that may have embryonic origin from the pectoralis major.
  • Tra Telligman - a retired American mixed martial artist and boxer having only one pectoral muscle



  1. ^ "Pectoralis Major". University of Washington - Dept. of Radiology. Retrieved 18 September 2014. 
  2. ^ "Pectoralis Muscle". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 18 September 2014. 
  3. ^ "Pectoralis Major". Washington University School of Medicine. Retrieved 18 September 2014. 
  4. ^ Brown JM, Wickham JB, McAndrew DJ, Huang XF. (2007). Muscles within muscles: Coordination of 19 muscle segments within three shoulder muscles during isometric motor tasks. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 17(1):57-73. PMID 16458022 doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2005.10.007
  5. ^ a b Saladin, KS (2010). Anatomy & Physiology: The Unit of Form and Function. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Changes made by Kari Thomas.
  6. ^ Hamilton, N, Luttgens, K, Weimar, W (2008). Kinesiology. 11th ed. Boston: Mcgraw Hill. Changes made by Kari Thomas
  7. ^ ExRx: Pectoralis Major Sternal
  8. ^ a b Garrigues GE, Kraeutler MJ, Gillespie RJ, O'Brien DF, Lazarus MD. Repair of pectoralis major ruptures: single-surgeon case series. Orthopedics 2012;35(8):e1184-1190. PMID 22868603
  9. ^ Aarimaa V, Rantanen J, Heikkila J, Helttula I, Orava S. Rupture of the pectoralis major muscle. Am J Sports Med 2004; 32:1256-62.
  10. ^ Arend CF. Ultrasound of the Shoulder. Master Medical Books, 2013. Chapter on ultrasound evaluation of pectoralis major tears available at
  11. ^ Connell DA, Sherman MF, Wickiewicz TL (1999). "Injuries of the pectoralis major muscle: evaluation with MR imaging". Radiology 210 (3): 785–91. doi:10.1148/radiology.210.3.r99fe43785. PMID 10207482. 
  12. ^
  13. ^ "Congenital Absence of Pectoralis Major: A Case Report and Isokinetic Analysis of Shoulder Motion" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-07-13. 
  14. ^ "An Unusual Case of an Intramuscular Lipoma of the Pectoralis Major Muscle Simulating a Malignant Breast Mass" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-07-13. 
  15. ^ "Chest Exercises". Retrieved 18 September 2014. 
  16. ^ "Upper Body Strength Training Exercises". Georgia State University - Department of Kinesiology and Health. Retrieved 18 September 2014. 

External links[edit]