The medial pectoral nerve (also known as the medial anterior thoracic nerve) arises from the
medial cord
The medial cord is the part of the brachial plexus formed by of the anterior division of the lower trunk (C8-T1). Its name comes from it being medial to the axillary artery as it passes through the axilla. The other cords of the brachial plexus a ...
(sometimes directly from the anterior division of the inferior trunk) of the
brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network () of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve ( C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1). This plexus extends from the spinal cord, through the cervicoaxillary canal in t ...
, and through it from the
eighth cervical and
first thoracic roots (C8/T1).
It passes behind the first part of the
axillary artery
In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla (armpit) and the upper limb. Its origin is at the lateral margin of the first rib, before which it is c ...
, curves forward between the axillary artery and
vein
Veins are blood vessels in humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenat ...
, and unites in front of the artery with a filament from the
lateral nerve.
It then enters the deep surface of the
pectoralis minor
Pectoralis minor muscle () is a thin, triangular muscle, situated at the upper part of the chest, beneath the pectoralis major in the human body.
Structure
Attachments
Pectoralis minor muscle arises from the upper margins and outer surfaces ...
muscle, where it divides into a number of branches, which supply the muscle.
Two or three branches pierce the muscle and end in the sternocostal head of the
pectoralis major muscle. The medial pectoral nerve pierces both the
pectoralis minor
Pectoralis minor muscle () is a thin, triangular muscle, situated at the upper part of the chest, beneath the pectoralis major in the human body.
Structure
Attachments
Pectoralis minor muscle arises from the upper margins and outer surfaces ...
and the sternocostal head of the
pectoralis major. The
lateral pectoral nerve
The lateral pectoral nerve (also known as the lateral anterior thoracic nerve) arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, and through it from the C5-7.
It passes across the axillary artery and vein, pierces the clavipectoral (coracoc ...
pierces only the clavicular head of the
pectoralis major.
Clinical relevance
The medial pectoral nerve can be used as a donor nerve when reconstructing a damaged
brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network () of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve ( C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1). This plexus extends from the spinal cord, through the cervicoaxillary canal in t ...
, or
axillary nerve
The axillary nerve or the circumflex nerve is a nerve of the human body, that originates from the brachial plexus ( upper trunk, posterior division, posterior cord) at the level of the axilla (armpit) and carries nerve fibers from C5 and C6. Th ...
.
See also
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Lateral pectoral nerve
The lateral pectoral nerve (also known as the lateral anterior thoracic nerve) arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, and through it from the C5-7.
It passes across the axillary artery and vein, pierces the clavipectoral (coracoc ...
Additional images
File:Brachial plexus.svg, Brachial plexus
File:Brachial_plexus_color.svg, Brachial plexus with courses of spinal nerves shown
References
External links
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Nerves of the upper limb