Breast Anatomy Flashcards
Normal thickness of the skin of the breast
2-3mm
Skin thickness is best evaluated on _____ when the area of concern is tangential to the xray beam
Mammography
Nipple areolar complex (NAC) is usually located at the
4th intercostal space in a non pendulous breast
Open to the skin surface at the Morgagni tubercles which are 1 to 2 mm raised bumps around the periphery of the areola
Montgomery glands (apocrine glands)
Create an internal framework or scaffolding that supports the breast. Normally they have scalloped appearance with undulating curves that can resemble the waves of the ocean
Cooper ligaments
When does the stoma of the breast becomes more fatty
After menopause
Most compressible structure in the breast. AP dimension decreases by 30% or more upon compression
Fat lobule
Glandular tissue components in breast
Lobules and milk ducts
Important reservoir for milk during lactation and breast feeding
Lactiferous sinus
Ductal system is best demonstrated on ____ where in a single duct orifice on the nipple is cannulated with a small probe
Galactography
Most worrisome for DCIS
Suspicious microcalcifications that are linear or segmental may be conforming to the shape of a ductal system
Ductal systems
Ductal system - lobes
Lobes - 20 to 40 lobules
Lobules - 10 to 100 alveoli
Smallest function units responsible for milk production
Alveoli
Gives rise to numerous pathologies and is the site where most ductal and lobular carcinomas are thought to arise
TDLU (Terminal Duct Lobular Unit)
Lobules and milk ducts are interspersed with fat and fibrous stroma
Fibroglandular tissue
Amount of fat relative to the amount of fibroglandular tissue measured on mammography
Breast density
The majority of fibroglandular tissue
Upper outer quadrant
“Shrinking breast” may be a sign of what
ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
Lie immediately deep to the breast. Seen on the mediolateral oblique (MLO) view of the mammogram
Pectoralis Major
Male breast is composed of
Nipple-Areolar Complex (NAC) and rudimentary milk ducts
Usual breast cancer in men
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Most common method of spread for breast cancers
Lymphatic Drainage
One of the strongest prognostic features for patients with breast cancer
Lymph node metastasis
Strongest predictors of metastasis
Morphology and cortical thickness(<2.3mm in patients with breast cancer)
Normal cortical thickness of an axillary node in women WITHOUT breast cancer
3mm
The afferent lymphatics channels first pass through the
Cortex of a node
Large lymphatic plexus under the NAC
Subareolar or Sappey plexus
First lymph node encountered
Sentinel lymph node
Axillary nodes level
Level 1 - lateral to the pectoralis minor (identified during axillary node dissection)
Level 2 - posterior to the pectoralis minor
Level 3 - medial to the pectoralis minor
Rotter nodes - nodes located between the pectoralis major and minor
Anatomy of an intramammary node is easily evaluated with
Digital breast tomosynthesis
Blood supply to the breast
Internal Mammary - Medial and central parts of the breast
Lateral Thoracic Artery - upper and outer portions of the breast
Thrombophlebitis of a superficial vein
Mondors disease
The ventral ectoderm folds inward to form two symmetric lines. Extends from the axilla to the groin
Milk Streak
Most common location of accessory breast tissue
Axilla ( 2 to 6% )
Poland syndrome
Absence of pectoral muscle Chest wall deformity Breast anomalies Symbrachydactyly Hypoplasia of the middle phalanges Central skin webbing
Most breast cancers arise from the
Epithelium of the milk ducts and the lobules
Milk ducts that extends to the surface of the nipple
10-15 (range 5-20)
First place that a metastasis is deposited
Immediate subcortical region
Nodes located between the pectoralis minor and major
Rotter
Breast development begins during the __ of development
5th week
Presence of accessory nipple
Polythelia
Presence of accessory breast tissue
Polymastia
Congenital absence of the breast
Amastia
Nipple is present without underlying breast tissue
Amazia
Site of milk production during pregnancy and lactation
Lobules
