Mammary Gland

The mammary gland is a modified apocrine sweat

gland that arise embriologicaly along the milk line that
extends from axillae to the groin .

Each mammary gland is consisting of 15-25 lobes,

each is consisting of an individual compound tubulo-
alveolar type of gland which are separated from each
other by interlobar stroma and has its own lactiferous
duct (main duct) which then opens onto the surface of
the nipple .

The interlobar stroma consists of dense connective

tissue and variable amounts of fat and contain
interlobular excretory ducts .
 Each lobe is consisting of several
lobules that contain compound tubulo-
alveolar glands embedded in a loose
connective tissue, and several ducts
arise from these glands which then form
a single larger duct called lactiferous
duct , the distal end of each lactiferous
duct dilates before it opens on the
surface of the nipple forming what is
known as a lactiferous sinus.
 Inactive mammary gland
•
• The mammary gland in the inactive state is
characterized by an abundance of connective tissue
and a minimum of glandular elements.
• The lobules contain groups of small tubules lined
by cuboidal or low columnar cells , these tubules
represents ducts and remain in this state as long as
the gland remains inactive and some of them may
present as undifferentiated solid cords of cells .
• The tubules are surrounded by loose connective
tissue (intralobular ) containing fibroblasts,
lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils.
Inactive mammary gland
MMMARY GLAND
 Lactiferous duct and terminal duct are
lined with pseuudostratified columnar
epithelium covered by closely packed
myoepithelial cells.

 Lactiferous sinuses are lined with

stratified cuboidal or columnar epithelium, but
its opening is lined with stratified squamous
epithelium.
 Active mammary gland
Mammary gland undergoes several histological
changes during pregnancy and lactation under the
influence of several hormones like estrogen,
progestin and prolactin ,the changes are :

1- Proliferation of the alveoli at the end of the

terminal interlobular ducts filled with milk. Alveoli are
spherical collection of epithelial cells that becomes
the active milk-secreting structures in lactation,
myoepithelial cells are flat contractile cells
surround the alveolar cells .
 The active alveoli are lined with low columnar
or cuboidal epithelium and filled with milk.
• 2- Reduction in the intralobular connective
tissue and adipose tissue in comparison with
interlobular one.
• 3- During lactation there is milk secretion by
alveolar epithelial cells that becomes small and
low cuboidal and their cytoplasm contains lipid
droplets
Active mammary gland
Active mammary gland
Alveoli of active mammary gland
 Nipple
• Nipple is a conical shape protrusion at
the center of the areola ( the skin around
the nipple)on its surface several
lactiferous ducts open ,externally it is
covered by keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium ,the epithelium rests
on a connective tissue layer that is rich in
smooth muscle fibers. These fibers are
arranged in circles around the deeper
lactiferous ducts and parallel to them
when they enter the nipple