Lecture 9 - Breast anatomy and histology

Question 1

What type of gland are the breasts?

Answer 1

Subcutaneous gland

Question 2

Where are the breasts located?

Answer 2

Bed of breasts extends from ribs 2-6 and from the lateral border of the sternum to the mid-axillary line.

Question 3

What attaches the breasts to the skin?

Answer 3

Suspensory ligaments

Question 4

How many lobes make up the secretory tissue of the breast?

Answer 4

15-25 lobes

Question 5

What space lies between the fascia and breast?

Answer 5

Retromammary space

Question 6

Arterial blood supply for the breasts?

Answer 6

Arterial supply is via the lateral mammary branches from lateral thoracic artery and medial mammary branches from internal thoracic artery.

Question 7

Venous drainage of the breasts?

Answer 7

Venous drainage is via the medial and lateral mammary veins.

Question 8

What nodes do >75% of lymph from the breast drain to?

Answer 8

Ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes and then to supraclavicular nodes

Question 9

Lymph drainage for inner breast quadrants?

Answer 9

Parasternal lymph nodes

Question 10

Lymph drainage for lower inner breast quadrant?

Answer 10

Abdominal lymph nodes

Question 11

Lymph drainage for the upper limb?

Answer 11

Axillary lymph nodes

Question 12

What is the axillary tail (of spence)?

Answer 12

A contiguous extension of adipose angling superolaterally from the primary breast into the axilla.

Question 13

Basic functional unit of breast?

Answer 13

Terminal duct lobular unit

Question 14

What is breast milk composed of?

Answer 14

Approximately:

88% water
7.5% carbohydrate (mainly lactose)
3.5% lipid
1.5% protein

Also contains small quantities of ions, vitamins and IgA antibodies.

Question 15

What is the skin on the nipple consisting of?

Answer 15

The nipple has a wrinkled surface and is covered by a thin, highly pigmented keratinised squamous epithelium.