Breast Histology

Question 1

What layer of the skin is the breast found within?

Answer 1

subcutaneous

Question 2

What type of glands are found within the breast?

Answer 2

compound tubulo-acinar gland

Question 3

What is found adjacent to the secretory lobules of the breast?

Answer 3

dense fibrous tissue

Question 4

What surrounds the dense fibrous tissue of the breast?

Answer 4

adipose tissue

Question 5

What are the suspensory ligaments of the breast?

Answer 5

large condensations of fibrous connective tissue

Question 6

What do the suspensory ligaments attach between?

Answer 6

dermis of the skin to the deep fascai overlying the muscles of the anterior chest wall

Question 7

What area of the breast are suspensory ligaments most ponounced?

Answer 7

upper breast

Question 8

What is the basic functional secretory unit of the breast?

Answer 8

terminal duct lobular unit

Question 9

Where do the terminal ductules drain into?

Answer 9

intralobular collecting duct

Question 10

What does the intralobular collecting duct lead into?

Answer 10

lactiferous duct for that lobe

Question 11

What is the expanded duct region near the nipple known as?

Answer 11

lactiferous sinus

Question 12

What surrounds the acini wtihin the lobule?

Answer 12

loose connective tissue

Question 13

What is the function of loose connective tissue within the lobules of the breast?

Answer 13

allow for rapid expansion during pregnancy

Question 14

What cell type surrounds the secretory cells of the acinus?

Answer 14

myoepithelial cells

Question 15

What secretory epithelia is found within the lobule?

Answer 15

varies from cuboidal to columnar

Question 16

What epithelium is found within the larger ducts eg lactiferous duct?

Answer 16

varies from thin stratified squamous to stratified cuboidal

Question 17

What epithelium covers the nipple?

Answer 17

thin, highly pigmented keratinised stratified squamous epithelium

Question 18

What makes up the cord of hte nipple?

Answer 18

dense irregular connective tissue mixed with smooth muscle

Question 19

what is the function of a lactiferous duct?

Answer 19

serves one lobe fo the breast

Question 20

What lines the lactiferous ducts as it approaches the surface?

Answer 20

stratified squamous epithelium

Question 21

What is different about the sebaceous glands of the nipple?

Answer 21

end directly on the skin instead of on a hair follicle

Question 22

What happens to the mammary glands during the luteal phase of htem menstrual cycle?

Answer 22

epithelial cells increased in heighgt; lumen of ducts increases and small amounts of secretions appear in the ducts

Question 23

What changes are seen to the breast during the first trimester of pregnancy?

Answer 23

elongation and branching of the smaller ducts; proliferation of the epithelial cells of the glands and myoepithelial cells

Question 24

What changes are seen in the breast in the second trimester?

Answer 24

glandular tissue continues developing; differentiation of secretory alveoli; plasma ells and lymphcytes infiltrates connective tissue

Question 25

What changes are seen in the breast in the third trimester?

Answer 25

secretory alveoli continue to mature with development of extensive rER

Question 26

What is the function of oestrogen and progesterone on the mammary gland during pregnancy?

Answer 26

stimulate proliferation of secretory tissue and fibro-fatty tissue becomes sparse

Question 27

What substance is secreted via apocrine secretion?

Answer 27

lipids

Question 28

What substance is secreted via merocrine secretion (exocytosis)?

Answer 28

protein

Question 29

What is apocrine secretion?

Answer 29

lipid droplets are secreted surrounded by membrane

Question 30

What is merocrine secretion?

Answer 30

via vesicles which merge with apical membrane to release contents into ducts

Question 31

What changes happen to the breast following menopause?

Answer 31

secretory cells of TDLUs degenerate leaving only ducts; fewer fibroblasts and reduced collagen and elastic fibres