| pectoral | 1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles. 2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy. 3. <zoology> Having the breast conspicuously coloured; as, the pectoral sandpiper. <anatomy> Pectoral arch, or Pectoral girdle, the jacksnipe . Origin: L. Pectoralis, fr. Pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. Pectoral. 1. A covering or protecting for the breast. 2. A breastplate, especially. That worn by the Jewish high person. A clasp or a cross worn on the breast. 3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs. Origin: L. Pectorale a breastplate, neut. Of pectorials. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| pectoral and abdominal anterior cutaneous branch of intercostal nerves | The ventral primary rami of spinal nerves T7-T11 (seventh to eleventh intercostal nerves), which supply the abdominal as well as the thoracic wall; innervate intercostal, subcostal, serratus posterior inferior, transversus abdominis, external and internal oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles, and provide sensory branches to the periphery of the diaphragm, and parietal pleura and peritoneum. Synonym: rami cutanei anteriores pectoralis et abdominalis nervorum intercostalium, ramus cutaneus anterior (pectoralis et abdominalis) nervorum thoracicorum, anterior cutaneous nerves of abdomen, pectoral and abdominal anterior cutaneous branch of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral branch of thoracoacromial artery | <anatomy, artery> Branches of the thoracoacromial artery descending between and supplying the pectoralis major and minor muscles, then continuing to supply the serratus anterior muscle and, in the adult female, the upper portion of the breast. Synonym: rami pectorales arteriae thoracoacromialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral fascia | The fascia that covers the pectoralis major muscle; it is attached to the sternum and to the clavicle; laterally and below it is continuous with the fascia of the shoulder, axilla, and thorax. Synonym: fascia pectoralis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral glands | Numerous nodes around the axillary veins which receive the lymphatic drainage from the upper limb, scapular region and pectoral region (including mammary gland); they drain into the subclavian trunk. Synonym: nodi lymphatici axillares, axillary glands. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral group of axillary lymph nodes | Lymph nodes located along the lateral thoracic vein; they receive the drainage of the pectoral region, including most of the drainage of the breast. Synonym: nodi lymphatici axillaris pectorales, anterior group of axillary lymph nodes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral muscles | Muscles underlying the breast area. (16 Dec 1997) |
| pectoral reflex | Contraction of the pectoralis major muscle elicited by tapping the seventh rib between the anterior and the medial axillary lines while the arm is abducted; contraction of the deltoid and biceps may also occur. Synonym: costopectoral reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral region | The region of the chest demarcated by the outline of the pectoralis major muscle. See: pectoral region, regions of chest. Synonym: regio pectoralis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral ridge | The ridge below the greater tubercle of the humerus into which the pectoralis major muscle inserts. Synonym: crista tuberculi majoris, bicipital ridges, pectoral ridge. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pectoral veins | Veins draining the pectoral muscles and emptying directly into the subclavian vein. Synonym: venae pectorales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| greater pectoral muscle | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, clavicular part (pars clavicularis), medial half of clavicle; sternocostal part (pars sternocostalis), anterior surface of manubrium and body of sternum and cartilages of first to sixth ribs; abdominal part (pars abdominalis), aponeurosis of external oblique; insertion, crest of greater tubercle of humerus; action, adducts and medially rotates arm; nerve supply, anterior thoracic. Synonym: musculus pectoralis major, greater pectoral muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| smaller pectoral muscle | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, third to fifth ribs at the costochondral articulations; insertion, tip of coracoid process of scapula; action, draws down scapula or raises ribs; nerve supply, medial pectoral nerve. Synonym: musculus pectoralis minor, smaller pectoral muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral pectoral nerve | <anatomy, nerve> A nerve that arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus usually passing medial to pectoralis minor to supply the sternoclavicular head of pectoralis major. Synonym: nervus pectoralis lateralis, lateral anterior thoracic nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |