The pectoralis major tendon is a bilaminar flat tendon inserting on the lateral lip of the intertubercular groove of the humerus. The anterior lamina, from the clavicular head, inserts more distally, while the posterior lamina, from the sternocostal head, is twisted so that its lowest fibres insert highest on the humerus. The tendon is approximately 4-5 cm wide at its insertion and can be palpated along the anterior axillary fold.
| Muscle | |
|---|---|
| Attachment | Lateral lip of the intertubercular groove of the humerus |
Adducts, flexes and medially rotates the humerus
Pectoralis major tendon tears occur primarily in young male weightlifters and contact sport athletes during bench press and resisted shoulder internal rotation. Most significant tears occur at or near the humeral insertion, although musculotendinous junction tears also occur. A palpable gap in the anterior axillary fold, bruising spreading from the axilla to the arm, asymmetric chest wall contour, and weakness of horizontal adduction and internal rotation are the clinical findings. MRI confirms the tear pattern, and surgical repair is recommended for complete tears in active patients, using suture anchor fixation to the humeral footprint. Early repair gives better results than delayed repair, though chronic tears can still be reconstructed.
Violent eccentric contraction during bench press or wrestling avulses the pectoralis major tendon from its humeral insertion, producing a palpable defect at the anterior axillary fold, anterior axillary ecchymosis, and marked weakness of horizontal adduction, managed by surgical reattachment to the lateral bicipital groove with suture anchors in active patients.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
