The Breast

THE BREAST  Defination:

It is a modified sweat gland that secretes milk during lactational period in female.



Type of gland: Exocrine / Apocrine

Axillary tail (of spence):

SITUATION It lies on the fascia covering pectoralis major, serratus anterior, external oblique & rectus abdominis, separated by the areolar tissue (retromammary space)

Retromammary space

EXTENSION  Vertically

it extends from the 2nd to 6th rib

 Horizontally

from lateral border of sternum to the midaxillary line.

STRUCTURE OF THE BREAST  From

outward to inward:  A. Skin: Nipple Areola  B. Parenchyma &  C. Stroma

 Skin:

Nipple Areola

 Parenchyma:

 Stroma:

Fibrous Fatty

BLOOD SUPPLY 

Perforating branches of internal thoracic artery



Lateral thoracic, superior thoracic, acromiothoracic arteries

Lateral branches of posterior intercostal arteries.

NERVE SUPPLY  Anterior

& lateral cutaneous branches of 2nd to 6th intercostal nerves

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE OF BREAST 

Superficial drainage

a.

d.

Upper outer quadrant Upper inner quadrant Lower outer quadrant Lower inner quadrant



The deep drainage

b. c.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE OF BREAST  Subareolar

lymph plexus ( of Sappy)

DEVELOPMENT OF BREAST  Breast

develops from a small part of milk line which is formed by the ectodermal ridge, extending from axilla to the groin on each side of the body

DEVELOPMENTAL ANAMOLIES  Amastia  Athelia  Polythelia

& Polymastia  Accessory breast  Micromastia  Macromastia  Retracted nipple or inverted nipple

APPLIED ANATOMY  Breast

abscess

 Carcinoma

breast

of

 Gynaecomastia:

Hypertrophy of the male breast. Causes: Chromosomal anomaly Drug induced