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Large pectoral muscle

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025

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The pectoralis major muscle (m. pectoralis major) is massive, fan-shaped, and occupies a significant portion of the anterior wall of the chest cavity. According to its origin, the muscle is divided into the clavicular part (pars clavicularis), which begins on the medial half of the clavicle; the sternocostal part (pars sternocostalis), which originates on the anterior surface of the sternum and the cartilages of the upper six ribs, and the abdominal part (pars abdominalis), which begins on the anterior wall of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. The bundles of the pectoralis major muscle, noticeably converging, pass in the lateral direction and are attached to the crest of the greater tubercle of the humerus. The pectoralis major muscle is separated from the deltoid muscle by a well-defined deltoid-pectoral groove (sulcus deltoideopectoralis - BNA), which passes upward and medially into the subclavian fossa. Situated superficially, the pectoralis major muscle, together with the pectoralis minor muscle, forms the anterior wall of the axillary cavity.

Function: Lowers the raised arm and brings it to the body, simultaneously rotating it inward. If the arm is fixed in the raised position, it lifts the ribs and sternum, facilitating expansion of the chest (auxiliary respiratory muscle).

Innervation: medial and lateral thoracic nerves (CVII-ThI).

Blood supply: thoracoacromial and posterior intercostal arteries, anterior intercostal branches of the internal thoracic artery.

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