Breast Anatomy Flashcards
Breast aka
Mammary gland
Where are lobulated, glandular structures located
Superficial fascia of the
Anterolateral wall of the thorax
The varying size and shape depends on
Fat and glandular tissue
And condition of the suspensory ligaments
Base of breast is overlying
Pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles
Apex portion
Near nipple
Breast extends from –rib to ?
2nd rib to 6/7 rib
Axillary tail is located
Upper, lateral base of breast to the axillary fossa.
Anterior end tapered, ending in the nipple
Ligaments that support breast
Coopers
Like spokes on a bike
These look like spokes on a bike
15-20 lobes
What is the junction of inferior breast with anterior chest wall, called.
Inframammary crease or fold
Each lobe is divided into
Many lobules
Basic structural unit of breast
Lobules
Lobules contain (5)
- Several acini
- Draining ducts
- Interlobule stroma (connective tissue)
- . Terminal ductal lobular unit (collectively)
- Ampulla
Acini are located
At very ends of lobules
Often where cancers originate
Terminal ductal lobular unit
Ampulla
Serves as a reservoir for milk, collecting station
Lobules size is affected by
Age and hormones
Involution
The normal process of decreasing lobule size with age and after pregnancy
Glandular elements of lobules
Acini
Formed by openings of each acini
Lactiferous ductules
Lactiferous ducts are formed by
Joined ductules
One duct for each lobe
Ducts join where
Before opening into nipples
Nipples are
Small projections containing a collection of duct openings
Lymphatic vessels of breast drain into what sets of nodes
Axillary lymph nodes, laterally
Internal mammary lymph nodes, medially
What nodes are often evaluated on mammograms
Axillary
3 tissue variations
Glandular
Connective/fibrous
Fatty
What type of tissue is dense and casts a homogeneous shadow
Connective/ fibrous
What type of tissue increases natural radiographic contrast
Fatty tissue
What type of tissue increases during pregnancy and lactation; decreases postpartum and age
Glandular tissue
What type of tissue is primary compenent of post pubertal adolescent breast
Connective tissue fibrous tissue
What type of tissue replaces glandular tissue after lactation and advancing age
Fatty tissue
All of the breast tissue is called
Trabeculae
Trabeculae
Small blood vessel’s, fibrous connective tissue and other small structures seen collectively on a mammogram
Trabecular patterns vary according to
Percentage of glandular, fibrous and adipose tissue within the breast.
Most patterns are symmetrical
30-50 y/o
Young women with three or more pregnancies
Fibro-fatty
4 types of women with fibrous breast tissue
- Post puberty adolescents
- 15-30 y/o
- Females over 30 with no children
- . Post menopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy
- Pregnant or lactating females
Fatty breast tissue
4 types of people
Children
Male
Post-menopausal women
Women over 50
