An unusual innervation of pectoralis minor and major muscles from a branch of the intercostobrachial nerve.
Variations of the branching pattern of the intercostobrachial nerve have been known to complicate dissection during mastectomy and other procedures involving the axilla. We present a unilateral case of a 73-year-old Caucasian female, in which the intercostobrachial nerve gives rise to an additional medial pectoral branch, which partially innervates the pectoralis minor muscle, as well as the abdominal head of pectoralis major muscle. Clinical consequences of such a variation may include motor losses, in addition to the commonly reported sensory losses, resulting from accidental or intentional dissection of the intercostobranchial nerve.
Department of Anatomy, American University of the Caribbean, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. edsg2000@yahoo.com
Marios
M
Loukas
Robert G
RG
Louis
Quentin A
QA
Fogg
Barry
B
Hallner
Ankmalika A
AA
Gupta
D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008408:Mastectomy; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000294:innervation*