A new variety of chondrocoracoideus muscle, or an additional head of pectoralis major muscle

Abstract

The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles are located in the anterior chest wall. This region is characterized by high morphological variability. During dissection an additional muscle was found, originating from the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle. After fusion it passed into the tendinous part coursing under the insertion of the pectoralis major muscle, then formed a common junction with the short head of the biceps brachii muscle, the distal attachment of which is on the coracoid process. Such an accessory structure could lead to neurovascular compression and cause thoracic outlet syndrome, of which pain is usually the first symptom. This muscle has not been described in the literature so far and for that reason we can name the present case as an unique structure.