1. Breasts or Mammary Glands

2. Definition
Breasts or mammary glands are accessory glands of the female reproductive system
They also exist in the male but only in a rudimentary form.
In the females small until puberty
After puberty the breast grows & reaches to its mature size at pregnancy
It is under the influence of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone
After parturition – prolactin  milk production; oxytocin  release of milk in response to stimulation of the nipples by the sucking baby

3. Structure
Glandular tissue – secretion of milk
Fibrous tissue – support the glandular tissue
Fatty tissue – covers the surface and fills the gap between the lobes and gives a smooth contour to the breast about 20 lobes of glandular tissue lobes consist of lobules
lobules consist of clusters of alveoli – glandular epithelium  milk secretion  flows into small ducts called lactiferous ducts – lactiferous converge towards the centre of the breast
At the centre dilatations or reservoirs for milk
From each dilatation or lactiferous sinus a narrow duct passes on to the surface of the nipple.

4. The nipple
Conical eminence at the centre of the breast
Surrounded by a pigmented area called the areola
On the surface of the areola numerous sebaceous glands (Montgomery’s tubercles). They lubricate the nipple during lactation.

7. Blood supply Lymph drainage Nerve supply Arterial supply
Thoracic branches of the axillary arteries
Internal mammary artery
Intercostal arteries
Venous drainage
Anastomotic circle round the base of the nipple – branches – to the circumference – end in the axillary and mammary veins
Lymph drainage
Axillary lymph nodes
Internal mamary nodes
Nerve supply
Branches from the 4th, 5th and 6th thoracic nerves – sympathetic - there are numerous somatic sensory nerve endings in the breast especially around the nipple . – touch receptors – sucking – stimulated – impulses to hypothalamus – oxytocin – release of milk

8. Axilla and axillary artery

12. Mammogram

19. The various diseases of the breast

20. The percentage of incidence of Ca breast in the four quadrants of the breast

21. Cancer of the breast causing swelling in the breast and puckering of the nipple and areola