Pectoral refers to the chest area of the body, especially the large muscles that stretch across your chest. When athletes talk about working their pectorals or pecs, they mean the powerful muscles that help you push, throw, and lift things. These are the muscles you use when you do push-ups, throw a ball, or give someone a big hug.

You'll see this word used in different contexts. In anatomy class, you might learn about the pectoralis major, the scientific name for your main chest muscle. Doctors and physical therapists use pectoral when discussing chest injuries or exercises.

The word also appears when describing animals: fish have pectoral fins (the ones on their sides near the front) that help them steer and balance in the water. Birds also have pectoral muscles that power their wings. A pectoral cross is a cross worn on the chest by certain religious leaders.

When you see pectoral in a book or hear it in conversation, it's usually pointing to something located on or related to the chest, whether it's muscles, fins, decorations, or other body parts.