The
Mammary
Gland
Presented by:-
Avanti S.
Bhargav
Ashish M
Athili J.
Asra S.
INTRODUCTION
• The breast is the most important structure present in the pectoral
region.
• Latin word Breast = Mammary gland.
• Modified sweat gland.
• Glandular tissue found in both the sexes, but is rudimentary in
the male. Well developed in females after puberty.
• Important accessory organ of the female reproductive system
• Provides nutrition to the newborn by secretion of milk.
SITUATION AND EXTENT
• Situated within the superficial pectoral fascia
• The Breast is divided into four quadrants:
1. Upper Lateral
2. Upper Medial
3. Lower Lateral
4. Lower Medial
• A small extension of the upper lateral quadrant
is called –
axillary tail of
Spence
1.Passes through Its opening is
and opening in known as
deep fascia Foramen of
2.Lies in the axilla Langer
DEEP RELATIONS
• The base of the mammary gland called as
mammary bed rests upon the following
structures:-
• DEEP FASCIA (PECTORAL FASCIA)
• MUSCLES-
• Pectoralis major
• Serratus anterior
• External oblique
• RETROMAMMARY SPACE
• A space deep to the base of the gland, lies
superficial to deep fascia, contains loose
areolar tissue, makes the gland freely
movable.
STRUCTURE OF BREAST
It can be divided into three components:
1. Skin with nipple & areola
2. Parenchyma (known as the mammary gland)
3. Stroma
SKIN
NIPPLE AREOLA
◦ A conical projection Pigmented skin surrounding nipple.
◦ Present just below the centre of the breast at the Rich in modified sebaceous glands which get
level of the fourth intercostal space 10 cm from enlarged during pregnancy to form tubercles
the midline. of Montgomery.
◦ The nipple is pierced by 15 to 20 lactiferous ducts.
Its oily secretion lubricate the nipple and
◦ It contains circular and longitudinal smooth
areola and prevent them from cracking
muscle fibers which can make the nipple stiff or
during lactation.
flatten it, respectively.
◦ It has a few modified sweat and sebaceous Also contains some sweat glands and
glands. accessory mammary glands.
Has lactiferous sinus below which stores milk.
PARENCHYMA(MAMMARY GLAND)
LOBULES
(15-20)
LACTIFEROUS DUCTS
LACTIFEROUS SINUS
(15-20)
NIPPLE
STROMA
• Stroma forms the supporting framework of the
mammary gland.
• Stroma = ADIPOSE TISSUE + FIBROUS TISSUE
• There are fibrous bands that provide structural
support and insert perpendicularly into the
dermis, termed the suspensory ligaments of
Cooper.
• The fatty stroma forms the main bulk of the
gland.
BLOOD SUPPLY
ARTERIAL SUPPLY:
• Internal thoracic artery =Branch of
subclavian artery
• Lateral thoracic Branches of
• Superior Thoracic the axillary
artery
• acromiothoracic
• Lateral Branches of posterior intercostal
arteries.
• Arteries converge on the breast and are
distributed on the anterior surface.
• Posterior surface of the breast is
relatively avascular.
VENOUS SUPPLY :
• They first converge towards the base of
the nipple where they form an
anastomotic venous circle, from where
veins run in superficial and deep sets.
1. The superficial veins drain into the
internal thoracic vein and into the
superficial veins of the lower part of the
neck.
2. The deep veins drain into the axillary
and posterior intercostal veins
NERVOUS SUPPLY
• The breast is supplied by the anterior and
lateral cutaneous branches of the 4th to 6th
intercostal nerves.
• The nerves convey sensory fibers to the skin,
and autonomic fibers to smooth muscle and to
blood vessels.
• The nerves do not control the secretion of milk.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
CLINICAL ANATOMY
BREAST CARCINOMA
• The upper and outer quadrant
of breast is a frequent site of
carcinoma (cancer).
• Abscesses may also form in the
breast and may require
drainage.
• Incisions of breast are usually
made radially to avoid cutting
the lactiferous ducts
ANATOMICAL DIAGNOSIS
• Infiltration of cancer cells into suspensory
ligaments = retraction or puckering of skin.
• Cancer cells infiltrate lactiferous ducts and
cause their consequent fibrosis =
retraction of nipple
Sign of tumour
in the breast
• Obstruction of superficial lymph vessels
by cancer cells lead to oedema of skin =
appearance like skin of an orange called
as peau d’orange appearance
SPREAD OF THE CANCER
• Because of communications of the superficial lymphatics of the breast
across the midline, cancer may spread from one breast to the other.
• Because of communications of the lymph vessels with those in the
abdomen, cancer of the breast may spread to the liver, and cancer cells
may ‘drop’ into the pelvis producing secondaries there.
• Apart from the lymphatics, cancer may spread
through the segmental veins.
• In this connection, veins draining the breast communicate with the
vertebral venous plexus of veins.
Through these communications,
cancer can spread to the vertebrae and to the brain.
SELF EXAMINATION
• Only way for early diagnosis
and appropriate treatment.
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. Mammograms can be used to check for breast
cancer in women.
• Mastectomy
is the medical term for the surgical
removal of one or both breasts,
partially or completely.
• A mastectomy is usually carried out
to treat breast cancer.
• Lumpectomy is the removal of only the tumour.
• Radical mastectomy is a surgical procedure involving the removal
of breast, underlying pectoral muscles and lymph nodes of the
axilla as a treatment for advanced breast cancer.
