The Breast

Question 1

What is the main ligament of the breast?

Answer 1

Suspensory ligament of cooper

Question 2

What does the suspensory ligament of cooper do?

Answer 2

Connects breast tissue to the claivcle

Question 3

What is the effect of ageing on the suspensory ligament of cooper?

Answer 3

The ligament weakens with age and so the breast sags.

Question 4

What hormones are involved with breast development in puberty?

Answer 4

Oestrogen
IGF-1
GH

Question 5

Outline the tanner breast stages.

Answer 5

1. Starts with no glandular tissue
2. Breast bud forms and alveolar widens
3. Breast grows in width and elevates
4. Increase in size and glandular system begins to develop.

Question 6

What hormones influence the breast during pregnancy?

Answer 6

Oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin

Question 7

How does progesterone affect the breast in pregnancy?

Answer 7

Progesterone causes hyperplasia of the ductal and alveolar cells, but inhibits milk production.

Question 8

Outline the production and storage of milk in the breast.

Answer 8

Lactocytes secrete milk into alveoli where it is stored.

Question 9

What lubricates the nipple?

Answer 9

Montgommery glands

Question 10

Explain the path milk takes exiting the breast.

Answer 10

Alveoli > Interlobular ducts > Lactiferous sinuses > Lactiferous ducts drain milk out of the nipple.

Question 11

What collect the alveolar milk secretions?

Answer 11

Interlobular ducts

Question 12

What do montgommery glands do?

Answer 12

Sebaceous glands that lubricate the nipple

Question 13

When does milk production start?

Answer 13

After birth when oestrogen and progesterone levels that were inhibiting milk production have fallen.

Question 14

What is the role of prolactin?

Answer 14

Produce and maintain milk in the breast

Question 15

What is the role of oxytocin in the breast?

Answer 15

Oxytocin stimulates the release of milk from the nipple

Question 16

Where is oxytocin secreted from?

Answer 16

Posterior pituitary

Question 17

What is the effect of an infant suckling on a breast.

Answer 17

Intercostal nerves innervating the alveolar send impulses to the hypothalamus.
Hypothalamus send impulses to the posterior pituitary to secrete oxytocin.

Question 18

What is the lateral arterial supply to the breast?

Answer 18

Axillary artery

Question 19

What is the medial arterial supply to the breast?

Answer 19

Internal thoracic artery

Question 20

What are the two hormones that control lactation?

Answer 20

Oxytocin

Prolactin

Question 21

What are the three arteries that supply the breast?

Answer 21

Axillary artery
Internal thoracic artery
Intercostal arteries

Question 22

What are the three main veins that drain the breast?

Answer 22

Axillary vein
Internal thoracic vein
Intercostal vein

Question 23

Where do the veins of the breast drain into?

Answer 23

Internal jugular vein and then into the superior vena cava.

Question 24

What innervates the breast?

Answer 24

Thoracic intercostal nerves

Question 25

What is the lymphatic drainage of the breast?

Answer 25

Axillary lymph nodes receive 75%

Thoracic internal lymph nodes receive 25%

Question 26

What are the two types of lymphatics of the breast?

Answer 26

1. Superficial lymphatics

1. Deep lymphatics

Question 27

What do superficial lymphatics drain?

Answer 27

Drain the skin over the breast, excluding areola and papilla.

Question 28

What do deep lymphatics drain?

Answer 28

Parenchyma of the breast, and the papilla and areola

Question 29

What is parenchyma?

Answer 29

Cellular tissue

Question 30

What drains the papilla and areola?

Answer 30

Deep lymphatics

Question 31

What drains the skin of the breast?

Answer 31

Superficial lymphatics

Question 32

Where is oxytocin produced?

Answer 32

HYpothalamus