Thorax I - Breast Flashcards
Where does the breast lie?
Within the superficial fascia (subcutaneous tissue)
- between the skin and the deep fascia overlying the pectoralis major muscle
Retromammary Space
Location - deep to the breast tissue, superficial to the deep fascia
- Contains loose connective tissue and allows some movement of the breast on the thoracic wall
Four Breast Quadrants
Upper Outer Quadrant (UOQ)
Upper Inner Quadrant (UIQ)
Lower Outer Quadrant (LOQ)
Lower Inner Quadrant (LIQ)
Axillary Tail
- Located in the UOQ of the breast
- Extends superolaterally towards the axilla
- Normal breast tissue
- aka Axillary Process or Tail of Spence
Areola
- Pigmented area around the nipple of the breast
- Contains multiple subaceous glands which secrete lubricating and waterproofing sebum
Accessory Nipples
- Can be found anywhere along the “milk lines”
Lobes of the Breast
- One lactiferous duct and many lobules
lobes in a mammary gland
- 15-20
Lactiferous Duct
- Drain into the nipple
- One per each lobe of the mammary gland
Lobule
- a collection of secretory units that drain into one branch of the lactiferous duct
Contains:
- glandular tissue at the ends of the ducts
- alveoli (only become active during lactation)
Suspensory Ligaments
- fibrous bands attached to the overlying dermis and help support the lobular tissue of the breast
Breast Lymph Drainage
Axillary lymph nodes (primary drainage site) - Lateral Side (#1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Parasternal nodes - Medial Side (innter quadrants) - drains into the alongside the internal thoracic vessels (#11, 12)
Across Midline - to the opposite breast (#9)
(rarely drains into nodes in the groin (#8)
Blood Supply to the Breast
1 - Internal Thoracic Artery
2 - Axillary Artery
3 - Intercostal Arteries
