Anatomy Atlases: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus III: Nervous System: Plexuses: Lateral and Medial Pectoral Nerves

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Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus III: Nervous System: Plexuses

Lateral and Medial Pectoral Nerves

Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

The medial pectoral (from the medial cord of the brachial plexus) may supply twigs to the clavicular head of the deltoid muscle and the acromioclavicular articulation. The lateral pectoral (from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus) may not receive fibers from the first thoracic nerve.

Cutaneous branches from the lateral pectoral nerve have been described supplying the skin of the mammary region and axilla.

Fibers from the medial pectoral nerve that supply m. pectoralis major may wind around the lower border of pectoralis minor instead of piercing it.

The lateral and medial pectoral nerves together may form an ansa.

Either nerve may form a loop around a neighboring vessel.

References

Birmingham, A. (1889) Homology and innervation of the achselbogen and pectoralis quartus, and the nature of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thorax. J. Anat. Physiol. 23:206-223.

Henle, J. (1868) Handbuch der Systematischen Anatomy des Menschen. von Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn., Braunschweig.

Latarjet, A. (1948) Testut's Traité d'Anatomie Humaine, 9th ed., G. Doin & Cie., Paris.

Schaefer, E.A., Symington, J. and T.H. Bryce, Eds. (1915) Quain's Anatomy, 11th ed., Longmans, Green, and Co., London.

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