Breast anatomy Flashcards
(25 cards)
what are the different regions of the breast?
circular body
axillary tail
what space do the breasts take up?
span 2nd - 6th intercostal muscles
what are breasts made up of?
mammary glands
what are mammary glands made up of?
modified sweat glands consisting of lobules and ducts
what is a lobule?
made up of alveoli which are drained by a lactiferous duct
what surrounds the mammary glands?
Connective tissue stroma
what is the connective tissue stroma?
surrounds and supports mammary glands, 2 components
what are the 2 components of the connective tissue stroma?
fibrous stroma
pectoral fascia
what is the pectoral fascia?
connective tissue overlying the pectoralis major which acts as an attachment point for ligaments
what is found between the pectoral fascia and the breast?
retromammary space
what is the fibrous stroma and what does it do?
they condense to form suspensory ligaments which separate the lobules and secure the breast to the dermis and pectoral fascia
where can extra nipples/ breasts form?
along the mammary crest ridge - accessory nipples and breasts
what is the embryological origin of breasts?
invagination of chest wall
ectoderm forms branching ducts, which during puberty sprout alveoli
what is the blood supply of the lateral breast?
axillary artery
lateral thoracic and acromio thoracic branches
what is the blood supply of the medial breast?
internal mammary/ thoracic artery through pectoralis major
what is the lymphatic drainage of the breast?
97% axillary nodes
3% internal mammary nodes
parasternal node
where does the lymph of the breast drain into?
left > thoracic duct
right > subclavian vein or right jugular trunk
draining of parasternal nodes
mediastinal nodes first then thoracic duct
inferiorly > groin nodes
complexity of lymphatic drainage
normal pathways can be interrupted by malignancies, surgery or radiotherapy
neck nodes can arise from blocked thoracic duct
where can secondaries be found?
in lymphatics of opposite breast, opposite axillary nodes or groin nodes
where is the nipple located
4th intercostal space for men and varied for women
nerve supply of breast
T3-5th intercostal
supraclavicular nerves from cervical plexus to upper and lateral parts
what does the T3-5th nerve supply?
sensory to skin
sympathetic to blood vessels to breast and smooth muscle in skin and nipple
what is the nipple made up of?
smooth muscle
