antepectoral
|an-te-pec-to-ral|
🇺🇸
/ˌæntiˈpɛktərəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌæntiˈpɛkt(ə)rəl/
in front of the chest
Etymology
'antepectoral' originates from Latin, combining the prefix 'ante-' meaning 'before, in front of' and 'pectoralis' (from 'pectus') meaning 'breast, chest'.
'pectoralis' (Latin, from 'pectus' meaning 'breast/chest') entered English as 'pectoral'; later the Latin prefix 'ante-' was joined to form the modern compound 'antepectoral' in medical/technical English.
Initially composed to mean literally 'before the chest', it has come to be used specifically in anatomy and surgery to denote structures or placements anterior to the pectoral region.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
situated in front of the pectoral region; anterior to the pectoral (chest) muscles or chest wall.
The doctor described the mass as antepectoral on the physical exam.
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Adjective 2
in surgical or implant terminology, describing placement or a plane located on the anterior surface of the pectoralis major (e.g., antepectoral implant pocket).
The surgeon recommended an antepectoral pocket for the implant to avoid disrupting the pectoralis major.
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Last updated: 2025/08/22 17:48