ˌpektəˈralə̇s, -rāl-, -räl- noun
or pectoralis muscle
( plural pectora·les -(ˌ)lēz)
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin pectoralis pectoral
: one of the muscles that connect the ventral walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arms and shoulder, in man being two in number on each side: (1) a larger that arises from the clavicle, the sternum, the cartilages of most or all of the ribs, and from the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle, and is inserted by a strong, flat tendon into the posterior bicipital ridge of the humerus and (2) a smaller that lies beneath the larger, arises from the third, fourth, and fifth ribs, and is inserted by a flat tendon into the coracoid process of the scapula — called also respectively (1) pectoralis major, (2) pectoralis minor