Anatomy of the Chest and Abdomen, Anterior View

Description

Prominent on the anterior thorax, the pectoralis major spans from the medial clavicle and sternum toward its humeral insertion, with the deltoid capping the shoulder laterally and the anterior axillary fold forming the inferolateral border of the chest wall. Superficial neurovascular pathways track into the upper limb, including the brachial plexus emerging inferior to the clavicle and reorganizing around the axillary artery and vein before continuing as the major nerves and vessels of the arm. Over the upper abdomen, the rectus abdominis runs vertically on either side of the linea alba, while segmental intercostal nerves and vessels course laterally between the ribs toward the abdominal wall. Anterior torso anatomy matters because it is the map for access and risk. Placement of chest tubes, infraclavicular central venous access, and pacemaker pockets all depend on the relationships between the clavicle, pectoralis major, and the axillary and subclavian vessels, and a small shift in needle angle can place the pleura or artery in harm’s way. The same surface territory is where long thoracic nerve injury produces scapular winging after axillary dissection and where thoracic outlet syndrome can compress the neurovascular bundle as it passes from the root of the neck into the axilla. Landmarks. And consequences. Use this plate for teaching thoracic and abdominal wall anatomy in gross anatomy, physical diagnosis, and surgical anatomy courses, or to support figures in textbooks and review articles on brachial plexus organization, axillary approach procedures, and anterior chest wall incisions. It also fits patient education materials that explain where nerves and vessels run relative to the ribs and pectoral musculature. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.