Unilateral Rectus Sternalis Muscle: Rare But Normal Anatomical Variant of Anterior Chest Wall Musculature

AbstractThe Rectus Sternalis muscle is an unusual muscle that is observed on the anterior chest wall. The origin of this muscle is a highly debated variation of the pectoral musculature. We report a case of an abnormal vertically placed muscle - The rectus sternalis muscle, on the right medial side of the anterior chest wall of a male cadaver aged about 80 years. The abnormal presence of this muscle can be misdiagnosed as a breast mass on a routine mammogram. The advantage is its role in reconstruction flap surgeries. Hence knowledge of such an anatomical variant should be kept in mind during diagnostic investigations and surgical procedures.

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Unilateral rectus sternalis muscle - a case report

National Journal of Clinical Anatomy ◽

10.1055/s-0039-3401606 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 05 (03) ◽

pp. 172-175

Author(s):

Smitha S Nair ◽

K Jayasree ◽

Ashalatha PR ◽

Jenish Joy

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Surgical Procedures ◽

Pectoralis Major Muscle ◽

Anatomical Variations ◽

Anterior Chest Wall ◽

Superficial Fascia ◽

Anatomical Variant ◽

Incorrect Diagnosis ◽

The Right ◽

Sternalis Muscle

AbstractRectus sternalis muscle, either unilateral or bilateral is an uncommon anatomical variant among the anterior chest wall muscles. During the routine dissection as a part of undergraduate medical teaching in the department of Anatomy, a unilateral rectus sternalis muscle was noticed on the right hemi thorax in one cadaver, located adjacent to the sternum between the pectoralis major muscle and the superficial fascia of the region. Though rare in occurrence, when present, rectus sternalis muscle demands proper awareness and attention by the clinicians especially radiologists and surgeons, as the ignorance of the existence of this muscle may lead to misinterpretation, incorrect diagnosis and unnecessary clinical interventions. Such anatomical variations should be borne in mind while doing radiological investigations, radiotherapy and surgical procedures in the chest region.

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Sternalis Muscle: An Unexpected Finding during Mastectomy

Case Reports in Surgery ◽

10.1155/2015/723198 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Prakash K. Sasmal ◽

Susanta Meher ◽

Tushar S. Mishra ◽

N. Deep ◽

Prabhas R. Tripathy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chest Wall ◽

Clinical Significance ◽

Anterior Chest Wall ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Unexpected Finding ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Anomalous Muscle ◽

The Right ◽

Anatomical Function ◽

Sternalis Muscle

Sternalis muscle also called rectus sternalis, rectus thoracis, or episternalis is an anomalous muscle of the anterior chest wall with unknown anatomical function. It is regularly observed in lower animal but infrequently in humans. Presence of this muscle can create confusion with tumours of the anterior chest wall during routine mammography. Although less is known about its origin and innervations, knowledge about this muscle can have many clinical implications. A case of unilateral sternalis muscle detected during mastectomy, in a female with carcinoma of the right breast, is being reported with a brief review of the literature and highlighting its clinical significance.

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A Comparative Analysis of Rare Sternalis Muscles: A Case Report

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2020.4564 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (A) ◽

pp. 552-554

Author(s):

Adegbenro Omotuyi John Fakoya ◽

Jessica Heymans ◽

Lennis N. Colón Rivera ◽

Brian Acevedo Fuentes ◽

Abayomi Gbolahan Afolabi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Comparative Analysis ◽

Chest Wall ◽

Rare Variant ◽

Anterior Chest Wall ◽

Cadaveric Dissection ◽

Anatomical Variants ◽

Anatomical Analysis ◽

Landmark Identification ◽

Sternalis Muscle

The sternalis muscle is a rare variant in the anterior chest wall located anterior to the vertical muscle. It was found in two cadavers during routine cadaveric dissection of 20 bodies. This finding provided an opportunity to perform a comparative anatomical analysis between a unilateral sternalis muscle on a female versus a bilateral sternalis muscle on a male. Having a better understanding of the anatomical variants can be extremely useful, precisely to avoid misdiagnosing tumors and to assist in landmark identification during surgeries.

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Atypical Type of Descending Necrotizing Fasciitis Spreading into the Anterior Chest Wall

Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery ◽

10.3342/kjorl-hns.2009.52.9.767 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 52 (9) ◽

pp. 767

Author(s):

Seung Kyun Kim ◽

Jun Ho Lee ◽

Chan Hum Park ◽

Jae Jun Lee

Keyword(s):

Necrotizing Fasciitis ◽

Chest Wall ◽

Anterior Chest Wall

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MR imaging of the anterior chest wall by using a flat coil.

American Journal of Roentgenology ◽

10.2214/ajr.156.5.2017940 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 156 (5) ◽

pp. 1110-1111

Author(s):

S Ehara ◽

M Sugisawa ◽

M Matsuda

Keyword(s):

Mr Imaging ◽

Chest Wall ◽

Anterior Chest Wall

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AB0501 CORRELATION BETWEEN AXIAL AND PERIPHERAL ENTHESIS IN SPONDYLARTHRITIS

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.2229 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1278.1-1278

Author(s):

H. Ferjani ◽

M. Yasmine ◽

K. Maatallah ◽

E. Labbene ◽

H. Riahi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Achilles Tendon ◽

Chest Wall ◽

Age Of Onset ◽

Scoring Systems ◽

Plantar Fascia ◽

Anterior Chest Wall ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Asas Criteria ◽

The Us ◽

The Mean

Background:Enthesitis is the clinical hallmark of spondylarthritis. It refers to the inflammation of joint attach in the bone. Several sites enthesitis may be affected, and a wide variety of scoring systems were available.Objectives:We aimed to determine the prevalence of axial enthesitis in the anterior chest wall (ACW), and its correlation with peripheral sites especially, the Achilles tendon (AT).Methods:We conducted a prospective study including patients with SpA according to the ASAS criteria. Sociodemographic data, as well as disease characteristics, were recorded. The Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) was used to assess clinical entheses (first and seventh costochondral joints, posterior superior iliac spine, anterior superior iliac spine, iliac crest, and Achilles tendon insertion). The presence of enthesitis on the US was then assessed in the right and left sternoclavicular (SCJ), manubriosternal (MSJ) joints, as well as in the AT, using Esaote My Lab 50.Results:The study included 47 patients with SpA: axial (n=26), axial and peripheral (n=21). There was a female predominance (sex ratio: 0.2). The mean age was 42.2 years ± 12.6 [11-70]. The age of onset of the disease was <40 years in 59.6% of cases. Tenderness in entheseal sites was found in 63.8% of patients, especially in the plantar fascia and AT (32.7%, 6%, respectively). The mean MASES score was 2.9 [0-13]. Clinical ACW involvement (29.1%) was at follows: 1st right chondro-sternal joint (CSJ) (19.1%), 1st left CSJ (25.5%), 7th right CSJ (27.7%) and 7th left CSJ (31.9%).US involvement of the ACW was 14.3%. Enthesitis of the AT was found in 70% of cases on US examination. ACW US involvement was correlated neither to the BMI nor to MASES score (p=0.16, p=0.6 respectively). Similarly, there was no correlation between the presence of US ACW enthesitis and clinical nor the US AT enthesitis (p=0.09, p=0.209, respectively).Conclusion:Our study showed that ACW enthesitis is frequent in SpA, especially by US screening. This axial enthesitis, don’t necessarily reflect a simultaneous clinical or US involvement of the peripheral entheses. Further studies are needed to characterize this subtype of SpA.References:[1]Verhoeven F, Guillot X, Godfrin-Valnet M, Prati C, Wendling D. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the anterior chest wall in spondyloarthritis: a prospective and controlled study. J Rheumatol. 2015;42(1):87-92Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

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