Neurovascular Distribution Within the Abdominal Head of the Pectoralis Major Muscle: Application to Breast and Flap Surgery

Abstract

The abdominal head of the pectoralis major (AHPM) is important in cosmetic and flap surgeries. Few studies have reported on its neurovascular entry points and distribution patterns. We aimed to determine the entry points and distribution patterns of the neurovascular structures within the AHPM. Thirty-two hemithoraxes were dissected, and the distribution patterns of the neurovascular structures were classified into several categories. The neurovascular entry points were measured at the horizontal line passing through the jugular notch (x-axis) and the midclavicular line (y-axis). The AHPM was innervated by the communication branches of the medial pectoral nerve (MPN) and the lateral pectoral nerve (LPN) in 78.1% of the specimens and of the MPN without the communication branches in 21.9%. All the LPNs had communication branches, which could be classified as independent in 46.9% of the samples, with the MPN in 21.9%, and with the LPN in 9.3%. The blood supply of the AHPM was composed of branches from the lateral thoracic artery (LTA) in 62.5% of the specimens, the thoracoacromial artery (TA) in 15.6%, and the LTA with the TA in 21.9%. The mean distance of the entry point was 6.3 cm +/- 1.3 cm lateral to the y-axis, 8.1 cm +/- 3.3 cm below the x-axis in the nerves, 6.5 cm +/- 1.2 cm lateral to the y-axis, and 8.6 cm +/- 3.0 cm below the x-axis in the arteries. This study defined the average neurovascular entry point and distribution pattern in detail using standard lines to enable the AHPM to be better understood. Clin. Anat. 28:520-526, 2015. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.