Female Anatomy Review Flashcards
What rib levels is the female breast typically located at?
2-6
What seperates the breast tissue from the underlying supportive musculature of the pectoralis muscles?
a layer of loose CT called the retromammary space
Describe the anatomy of breast tissue
the breast consists of mammary glands, which are modified sweat glands consisting of a series of ducts and associated secretory lobules that converge to form 15-25 lactiferous ducts which open independently onto the nipple
How does breast composition change in lactating women?
The breast tissue becomes more glandular (i.e. more mammary and lactiferous glands) in lactating women, while it is more fatty in non-lactating women
What is the major connective support of the breast?
In between the mammary glands in the breast lie well-organized stroma that in places condense to form suspensory ligaments of the breast (Copper’s ligaments) that span between the dermis of the skin and the deep fascia of the pectoralis major muscle
What is the blood supply of the breast?
branches of the internal thoracic a. (medial) and lateral thoracic a. (lateral)
What is the sensory (GSA) innervation to the breast?
intercostal nerves II-VI
What is the lymph drainage of the lateral breast?
axillary nodes, via the pectoral nodes which are the sentinel nodes from the lateral breast (i.e. check these for lateral breast cancer)
What is the lymph drainage of the medial breast?
parasternal nodes. NOTE: because the parasternal ndoes on either side can communicate with one another, theres is the possibility of metastasis to the contralateral breast
Describe what is occurring here
breast carcinomas can sometimes create tension on the Copper’s ligaments, resulting in dimpling of the skin giving this characteristic peau d’orange appearance
Mastectomy is likely to cause damage to which nerves?
long thoracic or thoracodorsal
The female external genitalia are called what?
the vulva
External genitalia in the Female (Vulva)
The ______ is the female homologue of the scrotum
mons pubis and labia majora
What is the female homologue of the penis?
the clitoris
Anteriorly, the labia minora split to the form the ____ and the posterior ____ of the clitoris
anterioe prepuce
posterior frenulum
What is the vestibule?
the smooth area bounded by the labia minora, in which the vaginal canal and the urethra open, as well as the orificies of the greater vestibular glands (aka Bartholin’s glands)
Describe the structure of the clitoris
Consists of an external glans and two cylindrical cavernous bodies that terminate as the bulb of the vestibule. Two internal crura which form the body of the clitoris.
What is the clitoris innervated by?
perineal branch of the pudendal nerve