- Pectoral fascia
Infobox Anatomy
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Latin = fascia pectoralis
GraySubject = 122
GrayPage = 435
Caption = Superficial muscles of the chest and front of the arm.
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DorlandsPre = f_03
DorlandsSuf = 12355326
The pectoral fascia is a thin lamina, covering the surface of thePectoralis major , and sending numerous prolongations between itsfasciculi : it is attached, in the middle line, to the front of thesternum ; above, to theclavicle ; laterally and below it is continuous with the fascia of theshoulder ,axilla , andthorax .It is very thin over the upper part of the Pectoralis major, but thicker in the interval between it and the
Latissimus dorsi , where it closes in theaxillary space and forms the "axillary fascia"; it divides at the lateral margin of the Latissimus dorsi into two layers, one of which passes in front of, and the other behind it; these proceed as far as the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebræ, to which they are attached.As the fascia leaves the lower edge of the Pectoralis major to cross the floor of the axilla it sends a layer upward under cover of the muscle; this lamina splits to envelop the
Pectoralis minor , at the upper edge of which it is continuous with the coracoclavicular fascia.The hollow of the armpit, seen when the arm is abducted, is produced mainly by the traction of this fascia on the axillary floor, and hence the lamina is sometimes named the "suspensory ligament of the axilla".
At the lower part of the thoracic region the deep fascia is well-developed, and is continuous with the fibrous sheaths of the
Recti abdominis .External links
*
* - "Pectoral Region: Reflect Pectoralis Major Muscle"
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