During a radical mastectomy, the surgeon identifies and preserves the nerve running along the lateral border of the pectoralis minor muscle. Injury to this nerve would result in denervation of which muscle?

• A Latissimus dorsi
• B Pectoralis major ✓
• C Serratus anterior
• D Teres major

Explanation

The medial pectoral nerve runs along the lateral border of the pectoralis minor and innervates the pectoralis major. Injury results in atrophy of the pectoral muscle. The thoracodorsal nerve innervates latissimus dorsi, the long thoracic nerve innervates serratus anterior, and the lower subscapular nerve innervates teres major.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy, 42nd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.