pectoralis major
- noun
- /ˌpɛktəˈrælɪs ˈmeɪdʒər/
- Specialized
:
pectoral mayor
- The chest muscle (pectoralis major) pulls the upper arms down and across the body; the back muscles (latissimus dorsi) pull the upper arms back and down.
- pectoralis major muscle
- pectoralis major and deltoid
- pectoralis major and brachii
Examples
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The pectoralis major and the deltoid anterior muscles appeared to function as arm flexors during the pushing phase and at the end of the recovery phase.
Academic text (1992) -
To provide more robust skin flaps, the breast skin is elevated with the underlying pectoralis major muscle as a composite musculocutaneous flap.
Academic text (2012) -
The "A" student may even integrate recent research on the activation of the six intra-muscular segments of pectoralis major (Paton & Brown, 1994).
Academic text (2003) -
This may, in turn, reduce the activity of the pectoralis major and the deltoid anterior muscles as prime movers of the upper arm during wheelchair propulsion.
Academic text (1992) -
More variations in the IEMG were observed for the triceps brachii, the pectoralis major, and the deltoid anterior muscles with a change in seat position.
Academic text (1992) -
The pectoralis major and the deltoid anterior activity were similar (both being active during the pushing phase), and a burst of activation was observed in the latter part of the recovery phase.
Academic text (1992) -
The chest wall skin is then elevated with the pectoralis major muscle as a composite musculocutaneous flap to maximize vascularity, especially in radiated patients.
Academic text (2012) -
It was found that a change in seat position caused more variation in the IEMG for the triceps brachii, pectoralis major, and deltoid posterior.
Academic text (1992) -
The flexion and extension of the arm and forearm used for propulsion are shown by the activity of the pectoralis major, the deltoid anterior, and the deltoid posterior.
Academic text (1992) -
The pectoralis major is essential for movements that bring the arms towards the body.
Synonyms
A large chest muscle that pulls the arm toward the body and turns it inward
A large chest muscle that pulls the arm toward the body and turns it inward
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built: 'pectoralis' denotes a chest muscle and 'major' means larger/primary, so the combined meaning is the larger chest muscle responsible for arm movement. Although 'pectoralis' is a technical/Latin-derived term, a learner who knows the constituent meanings can transparently infer this anatomical sense; many languages use the same major/minor anatomical distinction, supporting immediacy of understanding.
Etymology
Pectoralis major comes from Latin words: pectoralis meaning 'chest' and major meaning 'larger'. So the name literally means the large chest muscle, which explains why it is the big muscle that helps move and push the arm.
