breastfeeding Flashcards
how many lobes are in the breast and how are they arranged?
~20, radiating around areola.
have a duct system that drains down to the nipple.
how is the lactating and nonlactating breast divided?
non lactating breast is more fat (50%) lactating breast (30%) as the lactating breast has hyperplasia of glandular tissue that takes up the space
what are the characteristics of ducts that emerge at the nipple
~9 ducts.
ducts are torturous and branch near the nipple
what is the structure of the mammary gland
- basic secretory units with an alveoli structure that is siting within connective tissue
- alveoli structure is lined by mammary epithelilal cells and myoepithelilal cells
where are myoepithelilal cells and what is their role
surround/line the alveoli.
are contractile and responsible for milk ejection
what is lactogenesis
where the breast is converted from a nonsecretory state to a secretory state
what hormones promote development of the breast during pregnancy
- inc in human placental lactogen and prolactin thus get hyperplasia of the glandular tissue within the breast.
how does progesterone and oestrogen change during pregnancy and what is the effect of this
- progesterone and oestrogen released from placenta .’. high levels
- inhibit actual milk production (although breast is still growing in size)
how does progesterone and oestrogen change after birth and what is the effect of this
- fall in progesterone and oestrogen. stops the inhibition of milk production.
what is lactogenesis postpartum
milk production after birth due to fall in progesterone and oestrogen
how is the breast stimulated to produce milk?
- Suckling of the infant on the breast will stimulate prolactin release driving milk synthesis
- also causes release of oxytocin that drives milk ejection in a positive feedback manner.
what is the autocrine inhibition of milk production
duct cells will inhibit further milk production if there is already lots there. if milk isnt removed from breast, woman will not produce more milk
how is milk synthesis controlled
- mechanical stimulation stimulates release of prolactin from ant. pituitary.
- prolactin to cuboidal cells of milk producing alveoli to inc. milk synthesis
what is the ‘let down reflex’
- suckling stimulates nerve pathways that signal to the hypothalamus to cause release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland.
- oxytocin causes the myoepithelial cells to contract and secrete milk (down the duct and out of nipple)
how can we augment lactation
encourage lactation using dopamine antagonists
- doperidone
- metoclopramide
these are galactagogues.
what is a galactagogue
a food or drug that promotes or increases the flow of a mother’s milk.