UNIT TWO: Breast And Axilla Flashcards
What is fascia?
A thin layer of connective tissue which holds structures in place.
What is pectoral fascia?
A layer of fascia in the breast found superficial to the muscles and deep to the breast tissue
Surrounds the pectoralis major
What is the retromammary space?
A layer of loose connective tissue that separates the breast tissue from the deep fascia surrounding the pectoralis major, contributes to the the movement of the breast tissue along the chest wall.
Describe the location of the breast.
The breasts are circular in shape.
They are located over ribs 2 to 6,
2/3 lie over the pectoralis major muscles
1/3 over the Seratus anterior muscle
What are the main surface anatomy of the breast?
Nipple in the centre of the breast tissue
Surrounded by pigmented tissue called the areola.
What is the key differences between the breast in men and women?
The breast is functional in women. The breast is an accessory to reproduction.
The breast is not functional in men.
How does the breast develop in females?
During puberty the glandular tissue and fatty deposits grow.
Breasts are modified…..
Sweat glands
What is the axillary tail?
A section of breast tissue that leaves laterally and points upwards towards the axilla.
What is the suspensorio Retinacula?
A type of connective tissue that connects the breast tissue to the skin.
Support breasts and helps maintain their shape
What sets of arteries supply the breast and where do they originate from?
Medial mammary arteries from the internal thoracic arteries
Lateral mammary arteries from the lateral thoracic artery
Pectoral branch from the thoracoacromial artery
Describe the veins of the breast.
Medial mammary veins of the internal thoracic vein
Lateral mammary veins of the lateral thoracic vein
Thoracoacromial vein
All drain into the axillary vein
Describe the nerves that supply the breast.
The anterior cutaneous branch of the intercostal nerve (medically located)
The medial supraclavicular branch
The lateral cutaneous branch from the intercostal nerve
How does the lymphatic system link to breast cancer?
Allows cancer to metastasis.
The parasternal nodes are often how cancer spreads from one breast to another
What 3 main routes can lymph take to drain back into the lymphatic system from the breast.
75% drains back into the axillary regions.
24% drains into parasternal nodes.
1% drains back into the inferior phrenic nodes.
What lymphatic feature is found in the centre of the breast?
The subareola plexus,
Found in a circular shape around the areola, then spreads outwards
Name the different groups of lymph nodes found on the breast.
Anterior or pectoral nodes
Lateral axillary nodes
Central axillary nodes
Posterior axillary nodes
Apical axillary lymph nodes
What is the function of the lymphatic system hence what other bodily systems does it interact with?
Filters lymph
Recognises foreign antigen to stimulate lymphocyte production
Drains lymph dark into the blood
Hence overlaps with the circulatory and immune system
How is lymph created?
At capillary beds, extracellular fluid that can not be reabsorbed into the venous end of the capillaries is instead drained into the lymphatic system when pressure exceeds that within the lymphatic system.
Explain the general features of lymph drainage.
Lymph drains in a proximal direction.
Passes through lymph vessels reaching lymph nodes where it is filtered.
All lymph filters into either the thoracic duct into the left venous angle
Or drains into the right lymphatic duct and the right venous angle.
What is mean by the venous angle?
Is a bilateral structure where the subclavian vein and jugular vein meet, this is where the thoracic duct or right lymphatic duct drain lymph back into the cardiovascular system.
Why does lymph drain back into the venous angle?
This is the areas of lowest blood pressure in the cardiovascular system
What area of the body lymph drains into what lymph vessel?
The right upper limb, right head, right neck and right thorax will drain into the right lymphatic duct.
Below the diaphragm, upper left limb, left head, left neck and left thorax will drain into the thoracic duct.
What is this structure?
Lymph node
What are some key points about the lymph node structure?
Has many afferent vessels
Has one efferent vessel
Has its one blood supply
The outer regions are called the cortex and the inner regions the medulla.
The centre of each segment is where lymphocytes mature.
Name the bodily regs with lots of lymph vessels.
The axillary region (armpit)
The cervical region (head and neck)
The lumbar lymph nodes (abdomen)
The inguinal lymph nodes (pelvis)
Identify the red structure
The axillary tail
Identify the blue structure
Sub areola plexus
Identify the four different groups of lymph nodes in the axillary region
Identify the four different groups of lymph nodes in the axillary region
Label the major arteries in the breast
Label the major veins in the breast