Serratus anterior
Musculus serratus anterior
MuscularSuperficial musclesThoraxLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- Broad sheet on the side of the chest whose saw-toothed digitations arise from the outer surfaces of ribs 1–8; it wraps backwards around the chest wall, deep to the scapula, to the costal surface of its medial border, most fibres converging on the inferior angle.
- Function
- Protracts the scapula (punching, pushing) and rotates it upwards so the arm can be raised above the head; holds the scapula flat against the ribs.
- Size
- About 15 cm tall; each digitation 1–2 cm wide.
- Clinical note
- Injury to its long thoracic nerve (for example during axillary surgery) produces a "winged scapula" when pushing against a wall.