Repro Session 11 Flashcards
Where do the breasts extend to horizontally?
Horizontally from lateral border of sternum to mid axillary line
Where do the breasts extend vertically?
Between 2nd and 6th intercostal cartilages
Which muscles are the breasts superficial to?
Pec major and serratus anterior
What is the circular body of the breast?
Largest and most prominent part
What is the axillary tail of the breast?
Runs along the inferior lateral edge of pec major to the axillary fossa
What surrounds the smooth muscle nipple?
Pigmented areolae with sebaceous glands
What provides arterial supply to the medial aspect of the breast?
Internal thoracic
What branches of the axillary artery supply the breast?
Lateral thoracic and thoracoacromial
What branch of the posterior intercostal artery supplies the 2nd, 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces?
Lateral mammary branch
What branch of the anterior intercostal artery supplies the breast?
Mammary branch
What are the suspensory ligaments of Cooper?
Condensations of fibrous stroma of breast that attach and secure breast to dermis and underlying pectoral fascia and separate secretory lobules
What gives innervation to the breast?
Anterior and lateral cutaneous branches of 4th and 6th intercostal nerve
What innervation do the anterior and lateral branches of the 4th and 6th intercostal provide?
Sensory and autonomic to smooth muscle and BV tone
What is the retromammary space?
Loose CT between breast and pectoral fascia
What is the pectoral fascia?
CT associated with the pectoral fascia that provides point of attachment for Cooper’s ligament
What provides lymphatic drainage to the breast?
75% axillary, 20% parasternal, posterior intercostal
Where does lymph from the skin of the breast drain?
Axillary, inferior deep cervical and infra clavicular nodes
Where does lymph from the nipple and areola drain?
Subareolar lymphatic plexus
What are the mammary glands?
15-24 lobulated masses of fibrous tissue with adipose in between embedded in the breasts
What does each lobule seen in the mammary glands consist of?
Many alveoli drained by a single lactiferous duct and sinus behind the areola
What is the purpose of the lactiferous sinus behind the areola?
Allows for accumulation of milk
How do the lactiferous sinuses drain in the lactating mother?
Through 6-16 nipple pores in the areola
When does breast development begin?
At 6 weeks in utero
Describe breast development up until birth.
Breast bud arises at 6 weeks and grows inwards to create a few ducts that are present in both the male and female at birth
What happens to mammary tissue at puberty?
Ducts begin to sprout and branch
What are the effects of oestrogen and progesterone on mammary tissue with each menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen acts on oestrogen-alpha receptors to cause ductal sprouting; oestrogen and progesterone work together on oestrogen-beta receptors to cause ductal hypertrophy
What is mammogenesis?
Preparation of breasts by hypertrophy of ductular-lobular-alveolar system and differentiation of alveolar cells
What differentiation do alveolar cells undergo in mammogenesis?
Squamous to columnar
When can mammary tissue produce milk from during pregnancy?
T2
Why is milk not secreted from the time when the mammary tissue is developed so that it can be produced during pregnancy?
Progesterone inhibition of prolactin receptor synthesis
What favours further growth of the breast in addition to hypertrophy of the ductular-lobular-alveolar system?
Oestrogen stimulating adipose tissue formation
What process is seen in mammogenesis but only in primi gravida?
Angiogenesis
What visible breast changes are seen towards the end of pregnancy?
Nipples become erect, areolar enlarges and darkens
What is the advantages of the darkening and enlargening of the areolar towards the end of pregnancy?
Makes it easier for the neonate to identify
What are Montgomery tubercles?
Sebaceous glands that have fused with ducts around alveoli
What do Montgomery tubercles release?
Oil and pheromones
What is the function of the Montgomery tubercles secretions?
Oil hydrates skin around nipples and pheromones signal to neonate
What happens to the sensitivity of the breasts towards the end of pregnancy?
Increases
What is lactogenesis?
Synthesis of milk
What is the ultrastructure of lactocytes adapted for?
Production of fat by the SER, protein secretion by the Golgi apparatus, sugar synthesis and secretion
How is the ultrastructure of lactocytes adapted for lactogenesis?
Nucleus is positioned close to the base, hemidemosomes move to allow passage of macrophages and inflammatory cells
What does the movement of macrophages and neutrophils between cells in lactogenesis confer?
Maternal ductal system immunity and passive immunity to the neonate
What are the 5 mechanisms of entry for substances into breast milk?
Exocytosis, lipid synthesis and secretion, transmembrane secretion, transcytosis, paracellular pathway
What substances enter breast milk via exocytosis?
Proteins and lactose
How do fat droplets and milk fat globules seen in breast milk differ?
Globules are droplets with a membrane for even distribution
Which substances enter breast milk via transmembrane secretion?
Water, sodium and potassium
What substances move into breast milk via transcytosis?
Intact proteins
What is colostrum?
40ml of breast milk secreted in days 0-3 that has a different composition to intermediate and mature breast milk
Describe the composition of colostrum.
Less water, fat and lactose than more mature milk but more proteins, especially IgA, IgM and IgG, white cells present
What is the purpose of immunoglobulins in colostrum?
Coat neonatal intestinal mucosa
Describe the composition of mature breast milk.
~90% water, 7% lactose, 3% fat, proteins, minerals, vitamins and endocannabinoids
Which proteins are seen in mature breast milk?
Lactoalbumin, lactoglobulin, lactoferrin
What is the purpose of endocannabinoids in breast milk?
Appetite regulation of the neonate
How does cow’s milk compare to human breast milk?
Less lactose, more indigestible casein, more lactoalbumin and other proteins, more minerals
How long does it take milk production to mature?
2 weeks
How much energy does each litre of breast milk provide?
27 MJ
How much milk is produced each day by a lactating mother?
800 ml or double if twins
What effects does oestrogen have on prolactin?
Increases prolactotroph growth but not secretion
How is prolactin controlled?
Inhibition by dopamine
Where is prolactin produced in the pregnancy female?
Anterior pituitary and decidua
What is special about the control of prolactin produced by the decidua?
Not under inhibitory control by dopamine
What is the decidua?
Endometrium of the last menstrual cycle before pregnancy
What allows milk ejection?
Let-down reflex
What happens in galactokinesis?
Nipple on back of neonatal mouth stimulate mechanoreceptors in nipples –> signal to hypothalamus causing posterior pituitary to release oxytocin –> acts on myoepithelial receptors around alveoli causing ejection
What is galactopoeisis?
Maintenance of lactation via neuroendocrine reflex
What can stimulate the neuroendocrine reflex in milk let down?
Baby crying, fondling baby, anticipation of feed
What is needed for galactopoeisis to occur?
Sufficient sucking stimulus with regular removal of accumulated fluid
What are the consequences of infrequent breast feeding?
Turgor-induced damage to to secretory cells
Why does infrequent breast feeding rapidly become painful for the mother?
Turgor-induced damage combined with increased breast sensitivity
Is prolactin release seen in anticipation of a feed?
No
What can cause cessation of lactation?
Loss of feedback, pain, menstruation, suppression of prolactin, age
What might pain in the breasts causing cessation of lactation be due to?
Incensed turgor or mastitis