Lateral pectoral nerve
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View Chamath Ariyasinghe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Yoshi Yu had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Yoshi Yu's current disclosures- Lateral anterior thoracic nerve
The lateral pectoral nerve, also known as the lateral anterior thoracic nerve, arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus and supplies the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles.
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Gross anatomy
Origin
The lateral pectoral nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus with fibers from the fifth, sixth and seventh cervical nerves.
Course and relations
Shortly after branching from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus the lateral pectoral nerve may donate a communicating branch to the medial pectoral nerve (as shown in figure 1) forming a loop known as the ansa pectoralis, which itself branches from the medial cord of the brachial plexus. The nerve then passes inferiorly piercing the clavicopectoral fascia to pierce the deep surface of the pectoralis muscles. The ansa pectoralis runs anteriorly to the axillary artery and vein.
Branches and supply
The lateral pectoral nerve primarily supplies the pectoralis major muscle. Due to a communicating branch to the medial pectoral nerve some lateral pectoral nerve fibers pass to and innervate the pectoralis minor.
The lateral pectoral nerve also carries nociceptive and proprioceptive fibers.
Variant anatomy
The lateral pectoral may have two distinct origins from the anterior divisions of the superior and middle trunks.
Related pathology
Selected pectoral nerve blocks can be performed either intraoperatively or preoperatively with the aid of ultrasonography and may be utilized in patients prior to breast surgery, pectoralis muscle flaps and clavicular surgery.
References
- 1. Dalley AF, Agur AM. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, Sixth Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1605476528. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Shetty P, Nayak SB, Kumar N et-al. Origin of medial and lateral pectoral nerves from the supraclavicular part of brachial plexus and its clinical importance - a case report. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8 (2): 133-4. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/7082.4029 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
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