Breast Anatomy Flashcards
What type of glands are the breasts?
Modified apocrine sweat glands
Remind yourself of exocrine and endocrine glands form embryologically
Remind yourself of the difference between merocrine, apocrine and holocrine secretion
Breast buds are present in both sexes true or false?
True; at puberty female breasts develop under influence of oestrogen & progesterone
When does final maturation of breasts occur?
During first pregnancy
What is accessory breast tissue?
- Abnormal breast tissue that presents as a mass anywhere along the course of the embryological mammary streak (axilla to inguinal region)
- Relatively common congenital condition
What is Poland syndrome?
- Rare birth defect
- Underdevelopment or absence of chest muscle (pectoralis) on one side of the bod
- Webbing of fingers on ipsilateral hand also usually present
What ligaments support the breasts?
Cooper’s suspensory ligaments
Where are the breasts?
- 2nd to 6th rib
- Sternal edge to anterior axillary line
*15-20 lobes. Supported by Cooper’s suspensory ligament
What 3 arteries supply the breast?
- External mammary (lateral thoracic artery)
- Internal mammary (thoracic artery)
- Inter-costal arteries
State some risk factors for breast cancer
- Woman
- Age
- Family history
- Personal history of breast cancer
- Genetics
- Alcohol
- Obesity
- Radiation
- High socioeconomic class
State some protective factors/factors that decrease risk of breast cancer
- First pregnancy before age of 30
- Breast feeding
- Exercise
- ?Healthy organic diet
Remind yourself of the breast cancer screening programme, include:
- Who offered to
- How often screening is done
- What it involves
- Women aged 47 to 73yrs
- Every 3 years
- Mammogram
Remind yourself of the anatomy of the breast
- May secretory lobules
- Secretory lobules empty into ductules
- About 15-20 ductules combine to form a duct
- Duct widens, this widening is called the ampulla, and acts as a small reservoir
- Ducts join to form lactiferous ducts
- Multiple lactiferous ducts carry secretions to outside of breast through nipple pores
Describe the let down reflex (in lactation)
- *Oxytocin stimulates myoepothelial cells to contract*
- *Sound of a baby’s cry can trigger hypothalamus and stimulate let down reflex*
What early sign may be seen on mammograms if cells are dividing more than normal?
Calcification
NOTE: calcification is normal in breasts; it’s the pattern of calcification that might suggest cancer
This image compares normal breast to malignant breast
Remind yourself of the lymph nodes in the axilla
Breast surgeons often refer to lymph nodes in terms of levels as opposed to the names of the nodes; describe the 3 different levels of axillary lymph nodes
- Level I is below the lower edge of the pectoralis minor muscle.
- Level II is lying underneath the pectoralis minor muscle.
- Level III is above the pectoralis minor muscle
