Anatomy Def: The deltopectoral triangle is a groove between deltoid and pectoralis major muscles (above figure – blue arrow).
Outlander def: That groovy depression between chest and shoulder masses. A fav spot for a Claire bliss-kiss! (check it out on yourself or a pal!)
Learn about the deltopectoral triangle and deltoid and pectoralis major muscles in Anatomy Lesson #19, To Arms, Too Arms, Two Arms!
The deltopectoral triangle (again, blue arrow above) is important because it:
- Contains the cephalic vein, pectoral nerves and pectoral artery (a branch of thoracoacromial trunk). All are important structures!
- Provides surgical access to the genohumeral (shoulder) joint, sparing adjacent muscles.
- Serves as a landmark for percutaneous infra-clavicular cannulation of the subclavian vein. Whew! No worries, it means placing a tube through the skin below the clavicle into the subclavian vein.
BTW, the cephalic vein is that yummy vessel at the tip of the red arrow. In most folks, this vein ascends through the arm, entering the deltopectoral triangle before diving deeply to end in the subclavian vein – warning – a few folks don’t have one!
Read about Claire’s cephalic vein passing up her arm, through the triangle and heading for the subclavian vein in Outlander book. Yay, once again, Diana has provided!
“Your skin is so fine I can see the blood moving beneath it,” Jamie said, tracing the path of a sunbeam across my bare stomach. “I could follow the veins from your hand to your heart.” He drew his finger gently up my wrist to the bend of the elbow, up the inner side of my upper arm, and across the slope below my collarbone. “That’s the subclavian vein,” I remarked, looking down my nose at the path of his tracking finger. “Is it? Oh, aye, because it’s below your clavicle.
See Jamie’s deltopectoral triangle in Starz ep 313, Eye of the Storm. Claire has her eye on that triangle and the splendid vein leading to it- creates a storm for Claire, too! <G>
The deeply grateful,
Outlander Anatomist
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Photo creds: Starz ep 313, Eye of the Storm