Gross Anatomy of Breast

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Paired structure. External and attached to ant of chest wall. Sup inf axis from 2nd to 6th ribs. Medial border is considered to be lateral edge of sternum running laterally to the line of mid axillary axis which forms the lateral margin.

Question 2

Size, Shape, Appearance

Answer 2

Hemispherical shape with inf aspect being concave. Line running along sup inf axis will go through prominent surface called nipple which has a sourrounding area of highly pigmented skin called areolar. The areolar has a number of smalled raised bumps which are modifies sebaceous glands. The nipple contains milk ducts. There are four quadrants that are split sup/inf 2cm lat of mid clavicle and med/lat horizontal through the nipple. The quadrants are upper and lower inner quadrant and upper lower outer quadrant. There is an extension of upper outer quadrant called the axillary tail.

Question 3

Relations

Answer 3

Post = ant chest wall
Medial = sternum
Lat = axilla

Question 4

Blood Supply and Drainage

Answer 4

Depends on which part of the breast is being considered. Axillary artery and vein, internal mammary artery and vein, intercostal artery and vein.

Question 5

Lymphatic Drainage

Answer 5

Lymphatic drainage is complex. Medial and lateral aspects. Internal mammary chain is responsible for draining medial side of either breast. Rotters are interpectoral nodes. Lateral side is drained from supraclavicular, subclavicular, central and lateral axillary, subscapular and pectoral nodes.