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The pectoral muscles, commonly referred to as pecs, are a vital component of the upper body musculature. There are two chest muscles: the pectoralis major (or pec major) and the pectoralis minor (or pec minor). These muscles play a crucial role in various movements, including pushing, lifting, and stabilising the shoulders and arms. The pec major is a large, fan-shaped muscle that accounts for 80% of the pecs' total size. The pec minor is a small, triangular muscle that lies beneath the pec major.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pectoral muscles, pecs |
| Number | Two |
| Location | Both sides of the chest |
| Shape | Fan-shaped |
| Size | Large |
| Function | Adducting the arms, pulling them towards the midline of the body |
| Components | Pectoralis major, pectoralis minor |
| Pectoralis major components | Sternocostal head, clavicular head |
| Pectoralis minor components | Triangular muscle, lies beneath the pectoralis major |
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What You'll Learn
The pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor
Your pectoral muscles, commonly referred to as pecs, are a vital component of your upper body musculature. They play a crucial role in various movements, including pushing, lifting, and stabilising the shoulders and arms. The pecs are made up of two muscles: the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor.
The pectoralis major is a large, fan-shaped muscle located in the chest. It has two heads: the clavicular head and the sternal head. The clavicular head originates from the clavicle, while the sternal head originates from the sternum and the upper ribs. The sternal head accounts for 80% of the pec major's total size. It powers the bulk of the muscle's actions, including bringing your arms towards your body's midline (adduction) and rotating your humerus internally. The upper portion of the pec major (the clavicular head) helps with these actions, but also works to flex the humerus (raising your arm forward).
The pectoralis minor is a small, triangular muscle that lies beneath the pectoralis major. Despite sitting at the front of the body, it controls structures associated with the backside. It affixes at the ribs and the coracoid process, a small, hook-shaped protrusion atop the scapula (shoulder blade). Thanks to these attachment points, the pec minor helps depress (pull down) and spread apart the shoulder blades, and can assist with breathing. The pec minor works whenever the pecs work, so isolating it in the gym can be difficult.
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The primary function of the pectoral muscles
The other pectoral muscle is the pectoralis minor, or pec minor, which is a small, triangular muscle that lies beneath the pec major. Despite sitting at the front of the body, the pec minor controls structures associated with the backside. It affixes at the ribs and the coracoid process, a small, hook-shaped protrusion atop the scapula (or shoulder blade). Thanks to these attachment points, the pec minor helps depress and spread apart the shoulder blades, and can assist with breathing.
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The anatomy of the chest muscles
The pectoralis major, or pec major, is a large, fan-shaped muscle that commands the most real estate in the chest. It has two heads: the sternal head and the clavicular head. The sternal head, which accounts for 80% of the pec major's total size, originates from the sternum and the upper ribs, while the clavicular head originates from the clavicle. The sternal head powers the bulk of the muscle's actions, including bringing the arms toward the body's midline (adduction) and rotating the humerus internally. The clavicular head helps with these actions and also works to flex the humerus, or raise the arm forward.
The pectoralis minor, or pec minor, is a small, triangular muscle that lies beneath the pec major. Despite sitting at the front of the body, it controls structures associated with the backside. In addition to its attachment to the ribs, the pec minor affixes at the coracoid process, a small, hook-shaped protrusion atop the scapula (or shoulder blade). Thanks to these attachment points, the pec minor helps depress (pull down) and spread apart the shoulder blades, and can also assist with breathing.
The primary function of the pectoral muscles is to adduct the arms, or pull them towards the midline of the body from various angles. They are crucial for a range of movements and can be targeted with specific exercises to make them bigger and stronger.
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How to target each muscle to make them bigger and stronger
Your pectoral muscles, commonly referred to as pecs, are a vital component of your upper body musculature. They play a crucial role in various movements, including pushing, lifting, and stabilising the shoulders and arms.
There are two chest muscles: the pectoralis major (a.k.a. the pec major) and the pectoralis minor (a.k.a. the pec minor). The pec major is the larger of the two, with one large, fan-shaped slab on either side of your chest. The pec minor is a small, triangular muscle that lies beneath the pec major. Despite sitting at the front of your body, it controls structures associated with your backside.
To make your pecs bigger and stronger, you need to target each muscle specifically. The pec major is targeted by exercises that bring your arms toward your body's midline (adduction) and rotate your humerus internally. One such exercise involves lying on a flat bench holding a pair of dumbbells directly above your chest with your palms facing forward. The pec minor helps depress (pull down) and spread apart the shoulder blades, and can assist with breathing. Because it works whenever your pecs work, isolating it in the gym can be difficult.
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The importance of pecs for orthopedic health
Your pectoral muscles, commonly referred to as pecs, are a vital component of your upper body musculature. Comprising the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, these muscles play a crucial role in various movements, including pushing, lifting, and stabilising the shoulders and arms.
The pectoralis major is a large, fan-shaped muscle located in the chest, with two heads – the clavicular head and the sternal head. The clavicular head originates from the clavicle, while the sternal head originates from the sternum and the upper ribs. The sternal head accounts for 80% of the pec major's total size and powers the bulk of the muscle's actions, including bringing your arms towards your body's midline (adduction) and rotating your humerus internally. The upper portion of the pec major, the clavicular head, helps with the above actions and also works to flex the humerus (raising your arm forward).
The pectoralis minor is a small, triangular muscle that lies beneath the pectoralis major. Despite sitting at the front of the body, it controls structures associated with the backside. In addition to its attachment to the ribs, the pec minor affixes at the coracoid process, a small, hook-shaped protrusion atop the scapula (or shoulder blade). Thanks to these attachment points, the pec minor helps depress (pull down) and spread apart the shoulder blades, and can assist with breathing.
The pecs are important for orthopedic health as they are responsible for a range of movements, including pushing, lifting, and stabilising the shoulders and arms. Strong, developed pecs can make life in and out of the gym easier, whether you're swinging open a heavy door, pressing a loaded barbell, or corralling your squirmy kids. They also contribute to a fit and impressive-looking physique.
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Frequently asked questions
Pecs muscles are the two chest muscles, the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor.
The pectoralis major is a large, fan-shaped muscle that powers the bulk of the muscle's actions, including bringing your arms towards your body's midline and rotating your humerus internally.
The pectoralis minor is a small, triangular muscle that lies beneath the pectoralis major. It helps to depress and spread apart the shoulder blades, and can assist with breathing.
The primary function of the pecs muscles is to adduct the arms, or pull them towards the midline of the body from various angles.
