Anatomical terms of muscle. The pectoralis major (/ˌpɛktəˈreɪlᵻs ˈmeɪdʒər/) (from Latin: pectus, breast) is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest (anterior) of the human body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female. Underneath the pectoralis major is the pectoralis minor, a thin, triangular muscle. In sports as well as bodybuilding, the pectoral muscles may colloquially be referred to as pecs, pectoral muscle or chest muscle.