transversus thoracis (muscle)

trans·ver·sus tho·ra·cis (mus·cle)

[TA]

internal muscle of thorax; origin, dorsal surface of xiphoid process and lower portion of dorsal surface of body of sternum; insertion, second to sixth costal cartilages; action, contributes to depression of ribs, narrowing chest; nerve supply, intercostal.

Synonym(s): musculus transversus thoracis [TA], musculus triangularis sterni, sternocostalis muscle, transverse muscle of thorax