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Sternocostal part of pectoralis major: anatomy, location and function

The large lower part of pectoralis major arising from the sternum and ribs. Adducts and medially rotates the arm and extends the flexed arm.

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Highlighted in the model: Sternocostal part of pectoralis major. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Sternocostal part of pectoralis major at a glance

What it is
The large lower part of pectoralis major arising from the sternum and ribs.
Location
Originates from the anterior surface of the sternum and upper six costal cartilages, and inserts onto the lateral lip of the intertubercular groove of the humerus.
Function
Adducts and medially rotates the arm and extends the flexed arm.
Body system
Muscular · paired (left and right)
FMA ID
FMA79979 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • Innervation: medial and lateral pectoral nerves (C5–T1)
  • Blood supply: pectoral branch of the thoracoacromial artery and internal thoracic perforators

Structures next to the sternocostal part of pectoralis major

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Sternocostal part of pectoralis major (FMA79979). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §11.2 Naming Skeletal Muscles. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Related anatomy

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.