BREAST ANATOMY

Mammary glands​- are modified sweat glands in the superficial fascia anterior to the pectoral
muscles and the anterior thoracic wall

In nonlactating women, the predominant component of the breast is ​fat​, while ​glandular tissue
is more abundant in lactating women

Arterial supply

Laterally​, vessels from the axillary artery (superior thoracic, thoracoacromial, lateral thoracic,
and subscapular arteries)
Medially​, branches from the internal thoracic artery
the second to fourth intercostal arteries via branches that perforate the thoracic wall and
overlying muscles

Venous drainage
Veins draining the breast parallel the arteries and drain into the ​axillary, internal thoracic and
intercostal veins

Innervation
Innervation of the breast is via ​anterior and lateral cutaneous branches of the 2nd to 6th
intercostal nerves.​ The nipple is innervated by the ​fourth intercostal nerve​.

Lymphatic drainage
-approximately, 75% via lymphatic vessels that drain laterally and superiorly into ​axillary nodes
-most of the remaining drainage is into ​parasternal nodes deep to the anterior thoracic wall
and ​associated with the internal thoracic artery
-some drainage may occur via lymphatic vessels that follow the lateral branches of posterior
intercostal arteries and connect with intercostal nodes situated near the heads and necks of ribs

AXILLARY NODES ​drain into the ​SUBCLAVIAN TRUNKS

PARASTERNAL NODES ​drains into the B

​ RONCHOMEDIASTINAL TRUNKS

INTERCOSTAL NODES ​drain either into the ​THORACIC DUCT ​or into the
BRONCHOMEDIASTINAL DUCTS

Axillary tail of breast

This axillary process may perforate deep fascia and extend as far superiorly as the apex of the
axilla