Anatomy and Development

of
Breast
(Mammary Gland)
Dr. Sama ul Haque
 Objectives
 Describe the gross structure of the breast.

 Give its blood supply and lymphatic drainage.

 Discuss the development of breast and its

congenital anomalies.
 Breast (Mammary Gland)
 Modified Sweat Glands of the skin

 Functional in females (Milk secretion)

 Rudimentary and functionless in males

 Shape: Hemispherical
 Breast (Mammary Gland)
 Extent: Vertical: 2nd to 6th rib
(Base of the breast)
Horizontal: Lateral margin of the
sternum to the midaxillary
line
 2/3rd of the breast lies in the superficial fascia
(Pectoral fascia) lying on Pectoralis major

 1/3rd of the breast lies in the superficial fascia

lying on Serratus Anterior
Breast
 Breast (Mammary Gland)

 Nipple: Conical or Cylindrical prominence in

the center of Areola (Devoid of fat, hair
& sweat gland)

 Areola: Circular pigmented area of the skin

surrounding the base of the nipple,
containing sebaceous glands

 Axillary Tail : Small part of the breast extending

(of Spence) to the axilla
Breast (Mammary Gland)
Breast
 Breast (Mammary Gland)
 Retromammary Space: Space filled with loose
connective tissue between
breast and pectoral fascia

 Each breast consist of 15 to 20 lobes

 Lactiferous ducts from each lobe opens on the

summit of the nipple separately

 Lactiferous duct possesses a dilated Ampulla

(Lactiferous sinus) just before its termination
 Breast (Mammary Gland)

 Fibrous septa separates the lobes of the

mammary gland

 Suspensory ligaments (of Cooper):

Mammary gland is firmly attached to the
dermis of the skin by these fibrous septa
forming suspensory ligaments
Breast
 Arterial Supply of the Breast

 Perforating branches (Internal thoracic artery)

 Lateral thoracic artery (Axillary artery)

 Thoracoacromial artery (Axillary artery)

 Intercostal arteries
Arterial Supply of the Breast
Venous Drainage of the Breast
Quadrants
of the
Breast
 Lymphatic Drainage of the Breast

 Lateral quadrants: Anterior Axillary or Pectoral

Nodes

 Medial quadrants: Internal thoracic group of

Nodes (Parasternal)

 Few lymph vessels drains into Posterior

intercostal Nodes
 Lymphatic Drainage of the Breast

 Inferior quadrants: May drain into abdominal

lymph Nodes

 Some lymphatic vessels communicate with the

lymphatic vessels of the opposite breast
 Lymph
Drainage
of Breast
Lymph Drainage of Breast
Lymph Drainage of Breast
Comparison of active & inactive phase
Changes
in
mammary
gland
 Development of the Breast
 Modified Sweat glands

 First appear as bilateral bands of thickened

epidermis called the mammary lines (mammary
ridges)

 In the 7th week these lines extends on each side

of the body from Forelimb to the region of
Hindlimb
 Development of the Breast
 Major part of each mammary lines disappears
shortly

 Small portion of the mammary lines in the

thoracic region persists & penetrates the
underlying mesenchyme

 Here it forms 16 to 24 sprouts which in turn give

rise to small solid buds
 Development of the Breast
 By the end of prenatal life, the epithelial sprouts
canalize and form lactiferous ducts

 Initially lactiferous ducts open into a small

epithelial pit which shortly after birth
transformed into nipple

 At birth lactiferous ducts are devoid of alveoli

 At puberty alveoli and excretory ducts form due

to hormonal changes
 Development Anomalies of the Breast
 Polythelia (Accessary Nipples)

 Accessary nipples have formed due to the

persistence of fragments of the mammary line

 May develop anywhere along the mammary

line but usually appear in the axillary region
 Development Anomalies of the Breast

 Polymastia (Supernumerary breasts)

Occurs when a remnant of the mammary line
develops into a complete breast

 Inverted Nipple
Lactiferous ducts open in the original
epithelial pit that has failed to evert.
Development
Anomalies of
the Breast
Development Anomaly of the Breast
 Gynecomastia
 Enlargement of breasts in males

 Causes
 May be at puberty (Usually regresses)
 Drugs side effects
 Prostatic cancer therapy
 Hormonal imbalance
Thank you