pectoralis

American  

[pek-tuh-ral-is, -ray-lis, -rah-] / ˌpɛk təˈræl ɪs, -ˈreɪ lɪs, -ˈrɑ- /

noun

Anatomy.

• pectorales
  plural

1. either of two muscles on each side of the upper and anterior part of the thorax, the action of the larger pectoralis major assisting in drawing the shoulder forward and rotating the arm inward, and the action of the smaller pectoralis minor assisting in drawing the shoulder downward and forward.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pectorales
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pectoralis

< Latin pectorālis; see pectoral

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pectoralis pectorales

Another movement that uses a “T” strap stretches the pectoralis minor muscle, a relatively small muscle in the chest that gets a heavy workout from stroking into a wave.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 31, 2015

The pectoralis muscle lays on top of the chest wall.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Anibal Sanchez went on the disabled list with a major right pectoralis strain and isn't expected to return until next month.

From Reuters ● Aug. 16, 2014

Note that the pectoralis major and deltoid, which move the humerus, are cut here to show the deeper positioning muscles.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

I have examined those same specimens and can hardly decide to which species, P. boylii or P. pectoralis, they belong.

From Taxonomic Status of Some Mice of The Peromyscus boylii Group in Eastern Mexico, With Description of a New Subspecies by Ticul Alvarez

When they want to move a little they gently protrude themselves with their pinnae pectorales; but it is with their strong muscular tails only that they and all fishes shoot along with such inconceivable rapidity.

From The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White

The musculi pectorales so swelled, and the cartilago ensiformis so singularly raised, that the chest of the corpse touched the mouth.

From Sidonia, the Sorceress : the Supposed Destroyer of the Whole Reigning Ducal House of Pomerania — Volume 2 by Wilhelm Meinhold