BREASTFEEDING

LECTURE
GAYLINEL L. BONGYAD
PERI FELLOW
FEMALE BREAST
BREAST

 mammary glands
 glandular tissues stimulated by increase
in female hormones at puberty, during
pregnancy and lactation period.
 accessory glands of the female
reproductive system
BREAST

 LOCATION
 One breast is situated on each
side of the sternum and
extends from the level of the
second to the sixth rib.
 They lie in superficial fascia of
the chest wall over the
pectoralis major muscle
 Held in position by suspensory
ligaments of cooper
BREAST

SHAPE
 Hemispherical
 Has a tail of tissue extending
towards the axilla-TAIL OF
SPENCER
BREAST
SIZE
 Varies with different individuals and with the
stage of development and age.
 Non pregnant – 200g
 Pregnancy 400-600 g
 Lactation – 600-800g

 The external shape or size of

the breast is not predictive of
its internal anatomy nor of
its lactation potential.
 GROSS STRUCTURE OF THE BREAST

 Skin
 the breast is covered with skin and
subcutaneous tissue, at the centre
around the nipple the covering consist
of primary areola which is specialized
form of skin

 Axillary tail
 a tissue extending towards the axilla
GROSS STRUCTURE OF BREAST

 Areola
a circular of loose pigmented
skin about 2.5 cm in diameter
 found at the centre of each breast
 palepink in fair skinned women
and darker in dark women
 colour deepens with pregnancy
 approx. 20 sebaceous glands
within each areola
GROSS STRUCTURE OF BREAST

 Nipple
 lies in the centre of the areola
 at the level of 4th right
 about 6mm in length
 composed of pigmented erectile
tissue
 highly sensitive-has nerve endings
 surface of nipple is perforated by
small orifices
 openings of lactiferous ducts
MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF BREAST

 Largely composed of glandular

and fatty tissue covered with skin
 Glandular tissue: is divided into
15 to 20 lobes in each breast
completely separated by bands of
fibrous tissue
 Each lobe is made up of 40 tiny
lobules which are connected
together to form ducts by loose
connective tissues and blood vessels
MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF
BREAST
 Each lobule consist of a rounded
cluster of between 10 and 100
specialised alveoli called acini cells
which are secretory units of the glands
 The alveoli have epithelial cells which
manufacture colostrum during
pregnancy up to 3rd day postpartum
 The alveoli open up to tiny ducts
which unite to form larger ducts
known as lactiferous ducts
MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF BREAST

 Fibrous tissue: fascia of which the

breast rest and send out extensions
in the form of fibrous processes
called suspensory ligaments of
cooper; from the back of the breast
forwards to the subcutaneous tissue
underlying the skin and nipple
 offers support to the breast
MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF BREAST

 Alveoli
 hollow cavities, lined with milk-
secreting cuboidal cells (acini cells) and
surrounded by myoepithelial cells.
 These alveoli join up to form groups
known as lobules. The myoepithelial
cells can contract under the stimulation
of oxytocin thereby excreting the milk
from glands through the lactiferous
ducts toward the nipple
PHYSIOLOGY OF
BREASTFEEDING
MILK PRODUCTION AND
SECRETION
 Milk is produced as a result of the
interaction between hormones and
reflexes.
 During pregnancy, the glandular
tissue is stimulated to produce milk
due to various hormonal influences.
 Two reflexes, mediated by two
different hormones, come into play
during lactation.
PROLACTIN REFLEX

 Prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary gland which is responsible

for milk secretion by the mammary gland cells.
 When the baby sucks, the nerve endings in the nipple carry message to the
anterior pituitary which in turn releases prolactin.
 The earlier the baby is put on the breast, the sooner the reflex is initiated.
 The more the baby sucks at the breast, the greater is the stimulus for milk
production.
 The greater is the demand for milk, larger is the volume of milk produced.
OXYTOCIN REFLEX

 Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the posterior pituitary.

 It is responsible for contraction of the myoepithelium around the
glands leading to ejection of the milk from the glands into the
lacteal sinuses and the lacteal ducts.
 This hormone is produced in response to stimulation to the
nerve endings in the nipple by sucking as well as by the thought,
sight or sound of the baby.
Thank you!