Breast Physiology and Benign Diseases 2 Flashcards
To describe basic breast histology and the changes that occur over a woman's lifetime.
1
Q
What is the nipple-areola complex?
A
- The skin of the nipple contains sebaceous and apocrine glands
- Smooth muscle bundles are interspersed between the ducts in the nipple
- Nipple erection, emptying of milk from the ducts/sinuses when lactating
- Areola has Montgomery’s glands/tubercles, smooth muscle fibers and peripheral hair follicles
2
Q
What are the features of basic breast hisology?
A
- Constantly in flux, analogous to the endometrium
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Basic histology:
- ducts and lobules
- epithelial (ductal) cells
- myoepithelial cells
- specialized stroma and fat
- Most lesions including cancers arise from the so-called “terminal ductal lobular unit” or TDLU.
- Majority of breast in resting state is stroma, proportion of which is fibrous or fatty varies, partly with age
- Size of mammary lobules, number of acini and appearance of epithelial cells is also variable:
- phase of menstrual cycle
- inactive vs active (lactating) breast
- age of woman
3
Q
What happens to breast histology during pregnancy and lactation?
A
- Number of lobules and number of acini within each lobule increase at the expense of intralobular and extralobular stroma
- Luminal epithelial cells with cytoplasmic vacuoles, often protruding into the lumen
4
Q
What are important features of post-menopausal breast tissue?
A
Postmenopausal breast consists largely of adipose tissue containing a few residual ducts and vessels.