The Breast Flashcards
The Breast is the ______ structure in anterior thoracic wall
Most superficial
The Breast consists of _____ and _______ tissue
> mostly _____
glandular and fibrous tissue
>Mostly adipose (fatty) tissue
areola
Pigmental circle of skin surrounding the nipple
- Present in both males and females
> Areola contains _________ - lubricates nipple during
breast feeding
sebaceous glands
Position of breasts
- Extends from lateral border of sternum to midaxillary line
- 2nd to 6th rib (size variable)
- Overlies pectoral fascia pf pec major
= Retromammary space between breast and pectoral fascia allows some movement - Axillary process
- Mammary glands (secretory lobules) are attached to skin via
suspensory ligaments
Mammary glands
= modified sweat glands
Alveoli
= small sac in mammary gland – milk production
-Each lactiferous duct opens ___________ on nipple
independently
Dilated portion deep to areola
= lactiferous sinus
- Nipples composed of
circular smooth muscle fibers
Blood supply of breast
Arteries:
- Medial mammary branches and anterior intercostal branches of the internal thoracic artery
- lateral thoracic and thoracoacrominal – axillary artery
- posterior intercostal arteries from thoracic aorta (2nd -4th intercostal spaces)
Veins:
- Mainly into axillary vein
- some drainage into internal thoracic
nerve supply of breast:
Nerves:
- Ant. And lateral cutaneous nerves of 4th – 6th intercostal nerves
Lymphatic drainage of breast:
- About 75% of lymph drainage drains into the axillary lymph
nodes - 25% to parasternal lymph nodes
- And to the breast on the other side
- Also a little bit of drainage going to the abdomen
- Drainage is NB in spread of metastasis of breast cancer
Breast cancer
- Usually, malignant adenocarcinomas arising from epithelium of
lactiferous ducts - Spreads via lymphatic vessels (that’s why drainage so NB)
- Metastasis to lymph nodes (axillary, supraclavicular, opposite
breast, abdomen) - Can spread via venous system (azygous) to vertebral column,
spinal chord, brain
