Breast Anatomy

Question 1

What is the function of the breast?

Answer 1

To secrete milk during lactation

Question 2

What are the parts that make up the breast? (12)

Answer 2

1. Pectoralis major muscle
2. Pectoralis fascia (connective tissue)
3. Mammary fat
4. Lobules
5. Cooper ligaments
6. Lactiferous ducts
7. Acini
8. Nipple
9. Subcutaneous layer
10. Mammary layer
11. Retromammary layer
12. Axillary tail

Question 3

How should mammary fat appear on U/S?

Answer 3

Medium grey echogenicity

Question 4

How many lobules make up the breast?

Answer 4

15-20

Question 5

Where is the most common place for pathologies in the breast?

Answer 5

Terminal duct-lobular units

Question 6

What do the Cooper ligaments do?

Answer 6

Helps to support the breast with structure
- suspensory ligaments

Question 7

What are the milk containing glands called?

Answer 7

Acini
- or alveoli

Question 8

How many lactiferous ducts are found near the opening of the nipple?

Answer 8

20

Question 9

What is found in the subcutaneous layer of the breast?

Answer 9

Connective tissue

Question 10

How thick should the skin by in the subcutaneous layer?

Answer 10

2mm or less

Question 11

What breast layer is primary made up of the breast parenchyma?

Answer 11

Mammary layer

Question 12

Where is the mammary layer located?

Answer 12

Between the subcutaneous layer and the retromammary layer

Question 13

What layer has the most pathology in it?

Answer 13

Mammary layer

Question 14

What layer undergoes the most changes over time?

Answer 14

Mammary layer

Question 15

What is the retromammary layer mostly composed of?

Answer 15

fat

Question 16

What does the retromammary layer cover?

Answer 16

The pectoralis major muscle

Question 17

What is another term for the axillary tail?

Answer 17

Tail of spence

Question 18

Where does the axillary tail extend to?

Answer 18

From the lateral breast to the axillary

Question 19

Where is a common site for lymph nodes?

Answer 19

Axilla

Question 20

Where should you ALWAYS check if you find cancer in the breast?

Answer 20

Axilla

Question 21

What percentage of palpable breast carcinoma have axillary lymph node involvement?

Answer 21

40-50%

Question 22

What are 3 attributes for a normal lymph node?

Answer 22

1. Oval in shape
2. Echogenic, central, fatty hilum
3. Hypoechoic cortex

Question 23

What happens to the lymph node when malignancy is involved? (2)

Answer 23

1. Cortical hypertrophy
2. Displacement or loss of the central hilum

Question 24

Where are lymph nodes usually located?

Answer 24

Upper outer quadrant