Clavipectoral fascia

Clavipectoral fascia
Deep muscles of the chest and front of the arm, with the boundaries of the axilla. (Pectoralis minor visible near center.)
Latin	fascia clavipectoralis
Gray's	subject #122 437

The clavipectoral fascia (costocoracoid membrane; coracoclavicular fascia) is a strong fascia situated under cover of the clavicular portion of the Pectoralis major.

It occupies the interval between the Pectoralis minor and Subclavius, and protects the axillary vessels and nerves.

Traced upward, it splits to enclose the Subclavius, and its two layers are attached to the clavicle, one in front of and the other behind the muscle; the latter layer fuses with the deep cervical fascia and with the sheath of the axillary vessels.

Medially, it blends with the fascia covering the first two intercostal spaces, and is attached also to the first rib medial to the origin of the Subclavius.

Laterally, it is very thick and dense, and is attached to the coracoid process.

The portion extending from the first rib to the coracoid process is often whiter and denser than the rest, and is sometimes called the costocoracoid ligament.

Below this it is thin, and at the upper border of the Pectoralis minor it splits into two layers to invest the muscle; from the lower border of the Pectoralis minor it is continued downward to join the axillary fascia, and lateralward to join the fascia over the short head of the Biceps brachii.

The coracoclavicular fascia is pierced by the cephalic vein, thoracoacromial artery and vein, and lateral pectoral nerve.

External links

• SUNY Labs 04:05-0100 - "Pectoral Region: Reflect Pectoralis Major Muscle"
• SUNY Labs 05:ov-0200 - "Axillary Region"

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.