Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2017 Dec;30(4):161-164. 10.11637/kjpa.2017.30.4.161.

A Bilateral Double Sternalis Muscle in a Korean Cadaver

• Lee SJ
• Kim J
• Yoon SP

• KMID: 2424168
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/kjpa.2017.30.4.161

Abstract

Although the sternalis muscle has been well known to anatomists, it is quite unfamiliar to clinicians. During routine educational dissection, we came across a well-defined bilateral double sternalis muscle innervated by the intercostal nerve, respectively. The right sternalis muscle 1) became tendinous to insert into the sternum and 2) crossed midline and then intermingled with the left pectoralis major muscle, which could be classified into a double with single cross based on Snosek et al.'s criteria. The left sternalis muscle was composed of two bellies, which were combined at the midway, and became tendinous to insert into the contralateral manubrium, which could be classified into a bicipital diverging with double cross based on Snosek et al.'s criteria. The detailed knowledge on the sternalisis is important for clinicians as well as for anatomists, since the clinical importance of the sternalis muscle has been highlighted in recent years.

Keyword

Sternalis muscle; Muscular variation; Pectoral region

MeSH Terms

Anatomists
Cadaver*
Humans
Intercostal Nerves
Manubrium
Sternum