The anatomy of the pectoral region and chest will be discussed in three parts: The pectoral region, the mediastinum and midline structures, and the lungs and esophagus.

The basic procedures of subclavian venous catheterization, with and without ultrasound guidance, and cutdown on the cephalic vein in the deltopectoral groove will be used to illustrate the anatomy of the subclavian region (Chapter 14). A series of breast procedures beginning with the ultrasound-guided percutaneous breast biopsy (Chapter 15) and progressing through modified radical and classic radical mastectomy (Chapter 18) illustrate the anatomy of the breast, pectoral region, and axilla. Sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer and axillary dissection (Chapters 20 and 21) conclude this section.

The structures of the chest are first discussed by presenting the anatomy of the mediastinum (the “space between”). A rare procedure now, Mediastinoscopy (Chapter 22e) is included in the electronic text because it is a useful introduction to the topography of the region. A discussion of median sternotomy and thymectomy (Chapter 23e) completes the introduction to the anterior mediastinum.