Anatomy 7 - Breast Anatomy and Histology Flashcards
What types of tissue are present in the breast?
Secretory
Adipose
Dense fibrous
What type of glands are the mammary glands very similar to?
Sweat glands
What makes up the mammary glands?
Series of ducts and 15-25 secretory lobules
What makes up each lobule?
A compound tubulo-acinar gland (i.e. multiple branches serve a single lobule)
How does the mammary gland drain?
Each alveoli in the lobule is drained by one lactiferous duct
The ducts converge at the nipple
What is the connective tissue stroma (that surrounds the breast) made of?
Fibrous tissue
Fatty tissue
What does the fibrous stroma converge to form?
Suspensory ligaments of Cooper
What is the function of the suspensory ligaments of Cooper?
Attach breasts to dermis and pectoral fascia
Separate the secretory lobules of the breast
What does the base of the breast lie on?
Pectoral fascia
Where is the retromammary space?
Between the breast and pectoral fascia
What is the lactiferous sinus?
Expanded duct region that connects lactiferous duct to the nipple
What type of lining epithelium is present in larger ducts?
Columnar
What type of epithelium is present in the secretory epithelium?
Cuboidal or low columnar
What are myoepithelial cells?
Contractile cells that ‘squeeze’ out milk from secretory cells into the duct
Where are the myoepithelial cells found?
Between the secretory cells and the basement membrane