Pectoralis Major

Written by Dr Oliver Jones

Last updated November 6, 2025
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Pectoralis Major - Podcast Version

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The pectoralis major is a muscle of the anterior chest wall. It is a large fan-shaped muscle, which is composed of a sternal head and a clavicular head.

  • Attachments: 
    • Clavicular head originates from the anterior surface of the medial clavicle.
    • Sternocostal head originates from the anterior surface of the sternum, the superior six costal cartilages and the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle.
    • The distal attachment of both heads is onto the intertubercular sulcus of the humerus.
  • Function: Adduction and medial rotation of the upper limb.
  • Innervation: Lateral and medial pectoral nerves.
  • Blood supply: Pectoral branch of thoracoacromial artery and branches from the internal thoracic artery.
Illustration of the sternal and clavicular heads of the pectoralis major muscle.

Fig 1
The sternal and clavicular heads of the pectoralis major.

 

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