Clavipectoral fascia

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Clavipectoral fascia
Pectoralis minor.svg
Details
Identifiers
Latin fascia clavipectoralis
TA98 A04.4.01.018
TA2 2318
FMA 37340
Anatomical terminology

The clavipectoral fascia (costocoracoid membrane; coracoclavicular fascia) is a strong fascia situated under cover of the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major.

Contents

It occupies the interval between the pectoralis minor and subclavius, and protects the axillary vein and artery, and axillary nerve.

Traced upward, it splits to enclose the subclavius, and its two layers are attached to the clavicle, one in front of and the other behind the muscle; the deep layer fuses with the deep cervical fascia and with the sheath of the axillary vessels.

Medially, it blends with the fascia covering the first two intercostal spaces, and is attached also to the first rib medial to the origin of the subclavius.

Laterally, it is very thick and dense, and is attached to the coracoid process.

The portion extending from the first rib to the coracoid process is often whiter and denser than the rest, and is sometimes called the costocoracoid membrane.

Below this it is thin, and at the upper border of the pectoralis minor it splits into two layers to invest the muscle; from the lower border of the pectoralis minor it is continued downward to join the axillary fascia, and lateralward to join the fascia over the short head of the biceps brachii.

The clavipectoral fascia is pierced by the cephalic vein, thoracoacromial artery and vein, lymphatics and lateral pectoral nerve.

See also

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Pectoralis major

The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped or triangular convergent muscle, situated at the chest of the human body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles and lies under the breast. Beneath the pectoralis major is the pectoralis minor, a thin, triangular muscle. The pectoralis major's primary functions are flexion, adduction, and internal rotation of the humerus. The pectoral major may colloquially be referred to as "pecs", "pectoral muscle" or "chest muscle" due to it being the largest and most superficial muscle in the chest area.

Pectoralis minor human chest muscle that protracts the shoulder

Pectoralis minor muscle is a thin, triangular muscle, situated at the upper part of the chest, beneath the pectoralis major in the human body.

Serratus anterior muscle Muscle on the surface of the ribs

The serratus anterior is a muscle that originates on the surface of the 1st to 8th ribs at the side of the chest and inserts along the entire anterior length of the medial border of the scapula. The serratus anterior acts to pull the scapula forward around the thorax. The muscle is named from Latin: serrare = to saw, referring to the shape, anterior = on the front side of the body.

Axillary artery Large blood vessel bringing oxygenated blood to the thorax

In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla (armpit) and the upper limb. Its origin is at the lateral margin of the first rib, before which it is called the subclavian artery.

Infraspinatus muscle

In human anatomy, the infraspinatus muscle is a thick triangular muscle, which occupies the chief part of the infraspinatous fossa. As one of the four muscles of the rotator cuff, the main function of the infraspinatus is to externally rotate the humerus and stabilize the shoulder joint.

Shoulder joint Synovial ball and socket joint in the shoulder

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Subclavius muscle

The subclavius is a small triangular muscle, placed between the clavicle and the first rib. Along with the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles, the subclavius muscle makes up the anterior axioappendicular muscles, also known as anterior wall of the axilla.

Thoracoacromial artery

The thoracoacromial artery is a short trunk that arises from the second part of the axillary artery, its origin being generally overlapped by the upper edge of the pectoralis minor.

Medial pectoral nerve

The medial pectoral nerve arises from the medial cord of the brachial plexus, and through it from the eighth cervical and first thoracic roots (C8/T1).

Lateral pectoral nerve

The lateral pectoral nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, and through it from the C5-7.

Suboccipital triangle

The suboccipital triangle is a region of the neck bounded by the following three muscles of the suboccipital group of muscles:

Pectoral fascia

The pectoral fascia is a thin lamina, covering the surface of the pectoralis major, and sending numerous prolongations between its fasciculi: it is attached, in the middle line, to the front of the sternum; above, to the clavicle; laterally and below it is continuous with the fascia of the shoulder, axilla, and thorax.

Carotid triangle

The carotid triangle is a portion of the anterior triangle of the neck.

Clavipectoral triangle

The clavipectoral triangle is an anatomical region found in humans and other animals. It is bordered by the following structures:

Outline of human anatomy Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

Axillary arch Muscular slip associated with latissimus dorsi muslce.

The axillary arch is a variant of the latissimus dorsi muscle in humans. It is found as a slip of muscle or fascia extending between the latissimus dorsi muscle and the pectoralis major. There is considerable variation in the exact position of its origin and insertions as well as its blood and nerve supply. Its presence in different ethnic groups varies, being present in about 7% of Europeans and with higher rates in the Chinese and less common in the Turkish population. The arch may occur on one or both sides of the body.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 437 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)