Structure passing clavi pectoral fascia

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structures passing through clavipectoral fascia anatomy

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Structures Passing Through the Clavipectoral Fascia

The clavipectoral fascia is a thick sheet of deep connective tissue that encloses the subclavius and pectoralis minor muscles and spans the gap between them. It connects the clavicle superiorly to the floor of the axilla inferiorly. Structures travel between the axilla and the anterior chest wall by piercing this fascia.

Clavipectoral fascia with labeled structures passing through it

Clavipectoral fascia - from Gray's Anatomy for Students

Structures Piercing the Clavipectoral Fascia

The fascia is pierced between the subclavius and pectoralis minor muscles (through the costocoracoid membrane) by the following four structures:

Structure	Direction of Travel	Notes
Cephalic vein	Upward (superficial to deep)	Runs in the deltopectoral groove, pierces the fascia to drain into the axillary vein at the infraclavicular fossa
Thoraco-acromial artery	Downward (deep to superficial)	Branch of the 2nd part of axillary artery; emerges through the fascia and divides into pectoral, deltoid, clavicular, and acromial branches
Lateral pectoral nerve	Downward (deep to superficial)	From the lateral cord of the brachial plexus (C5, C6, C7); supplies pectoralis major
Lymphatics	Upward	Pass from infraclavicular nodes to the apical (level III) nodes of the axilla

Mnemonic

A popular way to remember these:

"CALL" - Cephalic vein, Acromiothoracic (thoraco-acromial) artery, Lateral pectoral nerve, Lymphatics

Additional Notes

The lateral thoracic artery exits the axilla inferior to the pectoralis minor (not between the two muscles), so it passes through the fascia at a slightly different level.
The medial pectoral nerve does NOT pierce the clavipectoral fascia; it penetrates directly through the pectoralis minor muscle itself.
The clavipectoral fascia also exerts traction on the subclavian vein wall (it is fused to it), helping to keep the lumen patent and facilitating venous return to the SVC - (THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, p. 401).

Sources: Gray's Anatomy for Students, p. 845; THIEME Atlas of General Anatomy & Musculoskeletal System, p. 401; Radiopaedia - Clavipectoral fascia

Create an anatomy diagram poster showing clavipectoral fascia and traversing structures

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Detailed medical anatomy education poster of the clavipectoral fascia and its traversing structures. Show an anterior view of the right shoulder and upper chest with the clavicular head of pectoralis major removed to expose the deep structures. Label and illustrate: the clavipectoral fascia (shown as a semi-transparent blue sheet), subclavius muscle (superior), pectoralis minor muscle (inferior), and the four structures piercing through the fascia: (1) cephalic vein in blue traveling upward through the deltopectoral groove into the axillary vein, (2) thoraco-acromial artery in red descending from the axillary artery and branching into pectoral, deltoid, clavicular and acromial branches, (3) lateral pectoral nerve in yellow passing downward to pectoralis major, (4) lymphatic vessels shown as thin green channels passing upward to apical axillary nodes. Also show the clavicle at top, ribs and intercostal spaces medially, coracoid process laterally, pectoralis major (cut edge), deltoid muscle, axillary vein and axillary artery. Include a title "Clavipectoral Fascia & Traversing Structures" at the top, a color-coded legend at the bottom, clean white background, professional medical illustration style with clear anatomical labels and leader lines.

Clavipectoral Fascia & Traversing Structures

Here is your anatomy poster showing the clavipectoral fascia and all four structures that pierce it:

Cephalic vein (blue) - traveling upward through the deltopectoral groove to drain into the axillary vein
Thoraco-acromial artery (red) - descending from the axillary artery with its four branches (pectoral, deltoid, clavicular, acromial)
Lateral pectoral nerve (yellow) - passing downward to supply pectoralis major
Lymphatic vessels (green) - passing upward from infraclavicular to apical axillary nodes

The semi-transparent fascia sheet illustrates how it encloses the subclavius (above) and pectoralis minor (below), spanning the gap between them and connecting the clavicle to the floor of the axilla.

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