title: Anatomic relationship of the pectoralis major and minor muscles: a cadaveric study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the anatomy of the individual pectoralis major and minor muscles has been described previously, never before has the anatomic relationship between these muscles been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors identify the anatomic relationship of the costal origins of the pectoralis major and minor muscles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral thoracic wall dissection was completed in 102 cadavers. In each dissection, the chest wall soft tissue was removed, and the distance between costal origins of the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor muscles was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 49 female and 53 male cadavers, 202 pectoralis major muscles were lifted to expose the costal origins of the pectoralis major and minor muscles. Distances between pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles were separated into 3 categories: less than 1 cm, between 1 and 3 cm, and greater than 3 cm. Forty-nine (24%) pectoralis muscle dissections displayed a distance of less than 1 cm between costal muscle origins. Eighty-three dissections (41%) showed an intermediate distance of between 1 and 3 cm, while the remaining 70 (35%) were over 3 cm. No significant difference was observed in these percentages with regard to sex. Ten cadavers displayed asymmetry in pectoralis muscle origin distance. Eight specimens displayed shared fibers between pectoralis major and minor muscles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anatomic relationship between the costal origin of the pectoralis major and minor muscles is highly variable. Understanding this spatial relationship has important implications for cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery.
authors.affiliation: Dr E. Sanchez is a Resident and Dr Moliver is a Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Erick R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Ruston
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moliver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D012272:Ribs / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: breast surgery; pectoralis major; pectoralis minor; subpectoral; subpectoral augmentation