Bilateral sternalis muscle in human fetus cadaver

Abstract

At the present time, the study of anatomical variations is seen as an important tool in medical practice, as long as it increases the assertiveness of diagnosis and the number of surgical possibilities. The SM, as known as “rectus sterni muscle”, is considered a supernumerary structure1 located at the anterior and medial part of the thorax, near the pectoralis major muscle.2 The SM appears at about 3 to 8 per cent of global population, being unilateral in 2 to 8 per cent of the findings and having less prevalence of bilateral mode (1.7%).3 The SM was registered for the first time by Barthelemy Cabrol at 1604 and described by Du Puy, 122 years later.4–6 The study of SM provides background for doctors and other health professionals to make the correct differential diagnosis between that muscle and tumors during mammographies.1,7 Furthermore, after being informed about the SM, surgeons can use it in reconstructive breast procedures.8,9 Therefore, our aim is to report the existence of a bilateral SM at an human fetus.