Ventral thoracic serratus muscle
Musculus serratus ventralis thoracis
- Synonym: Ventral thoracic serrate muscle
Definition
The serratus ventralis thoracis muscle (ventral thoracic serratus muscle), is a fan-shaped muscle located along the cranial half of the lateral thoracic wall. It originates from the lateral surfaces of the ribs and inserts onto the serrated face of the scapula. This muscle plays a critical role in suspending the trunk between the scapulae, aiding in respiration and stabilizing the shoulder during movement.
Origin: lateral surfaces of the ribs
Insertion: facies serrata of the scapula
Action: support of the trunk; to draw the trunk cranially and caudally; inspiration; to protract the shoulder forward and backward with respect to the limb.
Nerve: cervical and thoracic nerves.
In dogs, the serratus ventralis thoracis is related cranially to the serratus ventralis cervicalis muscle and they are often described together.
In large dogs, the muscle is 1.5 to 2 cm thick near the scapula. The thoracic portion of serratus ventralis has well-defined serrations that are covered in part by the scalenus muscle. Its three or four caudal serrations interdigitate with those of the obliquus externus abdominis muscle.
References
Dyce KM, Sack WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy. 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2017.
Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2020.
König HE, Liebich HG. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas. 6th ed. Stuttgart: Schattauer; 2020.
