HS1-7 Breast

Question 1

The breast, generally speaking, can be described as

Answer 1

a prominent superficial structure of the anterior thoracic wall

Question 2

What is the areola?

Answer 2

pigmented area of skin around the nipple

Question 3

The bed of the breast is formed by (2)

Answer 3

fascia over the pectoralis major and fascia over serratus anterior; retromammary space

Question 4

What is the structure of the retromammary space?

Answer 4

plane of loose connective tissue between breast and pectoral fascia

Question 5

What is the function of the retromammary space?

Answer 5

allows breast some degree of movement

Question 6

Mammary glands are modified

Answer 6

sweat glands

Question 7

Where are mammary glands located?

Answer 7

embedded in connective tissue

Question 8

What are alveoli?

Answer 8

clusters of milk producing cells, arranged in lobules

Question 9

Describe the pathway of milk after it is produced by alveoli.

Answer 9

milk drains into lactiferous ducts, which dilate into lactiferous sinuses, which open independently into the nipple

Question 10

Where are suspensory ligaments of Cooper located?

Answer 10

run between skin and pectoral fascia

Question 11

What is the function of the suspensory ligaments of Cooper?

Answer 11

support the breast

Question 12

What is the arterial supply of the breast? (2) Where do these vessels receive blood from? (4)

Answer 12

supplied by medial and lateral mammary branches, which receive blood from:

internal thoracic artery, posterior intercostal (2nd-4th) artery, lateral thoracic artery, thoracoacromial artery

Question 13

What innervates the breast?

Answer 13

anterior and lateral cutaneous branches of 4th-6th intercostal nerves

Question 14

Which lymphatic structures allow for drainage from the breast to the lymph nodes? (3)

Answer 14

axillary lymph nodes (75%) from lateral breast tissue; parasternal lymph nodes from medial breast tissue; inferior phrenic lymph nodes from medical breast tissue

Question 15

In breast cancer, metastatic cancer cells tend to spread through

Answer 15

the lymphatic system and form metastases in lymph nodes

Question 16

Lymph from a primary tumor in breast cancer first drains into what structure?

Answer 16

lymph from primary tumor first drains into sentinel lymph nodes

Question 17

How are sentinel lymph nodes useful in cancer diagnosis?

Answer 17

radioactive marker/dye is injected into tissue surrounding tumor such that marker is uptaken and gradually sent to sentinel lymph nodes, which can then allow for visualization necessary for biopsy

Question 18

What is axillary dissection?

Answer 18

surgical procedure for breast cancer patients in which axillary lymph nodes are removed (assuming cancer has already spread to the axillary lymph nodes)

Question 19

What are potential risks associated with axillary dissection? (2)

Answer 19

long thoracic nerve, thoracodorsal nerve, and intercostobrachial nerve are at risk of getting injured; swelling of arm/breast due to blockage of lymphatic pathway (lymphedema) is also a risk