Anatomy
pectoralis muscles
[ pek-tuh-ral-is, -rey-lis, -rah- muhs-uhlz ]
Subclass of:
Skeletal muscle
Definitions related to pectoralis muscles:
-
(muscle, pectoralis) A group of muscles on the exterior of the thorax, in general extending from the sternum to the humerus; primary function is movement of the upper forelimb.CDISC TerminologyClinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), 2021
-
Muscles of the upper chest. The term may refer to one of two muscles, the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor. The former is a thick muscle in the anterior portion of the chest. Its action involves flexion, medial rotation, and adduction of the humerus. The latter is a thin muscle located beneath the pectoralis major. Its action involves lowering the scapula and raising the ribs.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles that make up the upper and fore part of the chest in front of the AXILLA.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Pectoralis muscle, any of the muscles that connect the front walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder. There are two such muscles on each side of the sternum (breastbone) in the human body: pectoralis major and pectoralis minor. The pectoralis major, the larger and more...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> P
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.