Nerve · Chest

Lateral pectoral nerve

Nervus pectoralis lateralis

One of two nerves that reach the chest muscles from the front of the axilla. It leaves the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, crosses in front of the axillary artery and vein, pierces the clavipectoral fascia and enters the deep surface of pectoralis major, chiefly its upper clavicular part. The naming is a trap worth learning once: the lateral and medial pectoral nerves are named for the CORD they arise from, not for where they end up — the lateral nerve is actually the more medial of the two at their destination. Before it ends it sends a loop in front of the axillary artery to join its medial partner, so the two work as a single supply to the chest wall.