A unilateral rectus sternalis: An important variant in the thoracic region.

ABSTRACT

During a routine dissection in the Anatomy dissection hall, a unilateral muscle was observed on the left thoracic wall present superficial to pectoralis major muscle. The name of this muscle was Rectus Sternalis muscle and the history of the development of the rectus sternalis muscle provided with interesting explanations by different authors and even in the Anatomy textbooks. Since this muscle was found for the first time in five years by dissecting 70 cadavers, it is considered as a very rare anomaly. The description of rectus sternalis muscle might provide useful details for clinicians exploring the pectoral region.