Mammary Histology Flashcards

1
Q

Technially, the mammary gland is what?

A

a modifed sweat gland

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2
Q

HOw many lobes are there?`

A

15-25

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3
Q

True or false: each lobe is an independent gland

A

true

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4
Q

Where do ducts open?

A

apex of the nippple

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5
Q

Each lobe has several what?

A

lobules separated by intralobular connective tissue

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6
Q

Which CT is thicker - the interlobular or intralobular?

A

interlobular

the intralobular is loose

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7
Q

What is the secretory unit of the mammary gland?

A

alveoli

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8
Q

What kind of secretion is this?

A

apocrine - the lipid part

merocrine - the salts and proteins

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9
Q

What is the epithelium of the duct system? How bout near the opening on the nipple?

A

simple columnar in the ducts

stratified squamous near the opening on the nipple

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10
Q

WHat cells help to squeeze the alveoli to push the milk into the duct system and out?

A

the myoepithelial cells

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11
Q

What is the sequence of ducts in the gland?

A
intralobular ducts
interlobular ducts
lactiferous ducts
lactiferous sinus
lactiferous duct
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12
Q

What are the changes that occur during puberty?

A
  1. glands enlarge rapidly due to distribution and deposition of adipose and CT
  2. the duct system may enlarge slightly, but stays relatively unchanged and remain incompletely developed until first pregnancy
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13
Q

WHen does the fullest development occur for the mammary gland?

A

during nursing for the first child

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14
Q

Describe the skin of the nipple?

A
  1. pigmented
  2. stratified squamous keratinized epithelium
  3. no sweat glands or hair follicles, but maybe solitary sebaceous glands
  4. melanin increases during pregnancy
  5. tall connective tissue papillae with numerous meissner’s corpuscles
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15
Q

Describe the smooth muscle arrangement in the hipple?

A

outer circumferential and inner longitudinal surrounding the ducts (hard to differentiate)

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16
Q

What are the little bumps on the areola called?

A

areolar glands of Montgomery

17
Q

What are these glands of montgomery?

A

intermediate between sweat glands and a true mammary gland

18
Q

True or false: aerola has no sweat glands, but has sebaceous glands.

A

false - has both

19
Q

Where are the alveoli located?

A

at the distal ends of the intralobular ducts

20
Q

What is the epithelium of those alveoli?

A

cuboidal to squamous epithelium

21
Q

How many myoepithelial cells are there per alveolus?

A

usually 4-6

22
Q

What hormone do those myoepithelial cells respond to?

A

oxytocin

23
Q

What’s the term for one set of duct lobules?

A

terminal duct lobular unit

24
Q

What happens to the breast during pregnancy?

A
  1. intralobualr ducts proliferate and branch
  2. alveoli form and increase in numbers
  3. CT appears to decrease, but is actually just compressed
  4. plasma cell infiltration
  5. increase in alveolar height
  6. clostrium pruduction
25
Q

When during pregnancy do the alveoli develop lumens?

A

2nd half

26
Q

Describe colostrum

A

It’s a type of pre-milk that is thick with proteins, vitamin A, sodium, chloride, lactalbumin and IgA

27
Q

WHat is the major milk sugar produced by the active alveoli?

A

lactose

28
Q

Adjacent to the active alveoli will be resting alveoli (which already ejected its milk). What would those look like in comparison?

A
  1. small lumen

2. epithelium may be taller because it’s preparing to make more milk

29
Q

Describe how foremilk at the beginning of nursing differs from hindmilk of later nursing session?

A

foremilk - more watery, lots o protein

hindmilk - thicker, more lipid

30
Q

Describe what happens in regression after breastfeedign?

A
  1. secretory products resorbed
  2. aleolar size decreases
  3. alveolar degeneration
  4. connective tissue appears to increase as the alveoli degenerate
31
Q

What happems to the mammary glands during menopause?

A

involution

32
Q

Describe what happens in involution?

A
  1. atrophy of gland and stroma
  2. few ducts may persist
  3. cyst formagion is common
  4. the CT becomes more dense
33
Q

WHat hormone will stimulate the duct proliferation during pregnancy?

A

estrogen

34
Q

What hormone stimulates alveolar proliferation?

A

progesteron

35
Q

What hormone stimulates milk formation?

A

prolactin

36
Q

What are the two effects of suckling?

A
  1. increases prolactin secretion (by decreasing dopamine release)
  2. increases oxytocin release to produce milk ejection via myoepithelial cell contraction