THE MAMMARY GLANDS

• The mammary glands are modified sweat glands.
• It is situated anterior part of the female chest overlying the pectoralis muscle.
• The mammary gland also called breast.
• It is present in both male and female but it\’s more developed in female.
• It widens from the second to sixth rib in the midclavicular line.
• The breast composed of glandular tissue, nipple, areola,lobes, lactiferous ducts, ampulla, alveoli.

NIPPLE

• It is cone-shaped projection present in the center of the breast.
• It is present in fourth intercostal space.
• It consists of smooth muscle fibers and nerve supply.
• 15 to 20 lactiferous ducts open at the nipple through which the baby suck the breast milk.
• When the baby suck the nipple of the mother there is stimulation occur and release prolactin hormone which stimulate milk production.

AREOLA

• It is the darker pigmented area around the nipple.
• The diameter of areola is 2.5 cm.
• Small openings are present in the areola which is called sebaceous glands.this is also called as Montgomery gland which produce oil to moisture and protect the skin.

LOBES

Each breast of female has 20 lobes.it is situated around the nipple

LOBULE

• Inside the lobes there are smaller section called lobule.

ALVEOLI

• A tiny bulb is present at the end of each lobule is called alveoli.
• It\’s grape size structure and contain cavity
• Acini cell present in alveoli and produce milk
• Myoepithelial cell surround the aicni cell and ducts.
• When the baby sucks the mother breast posterior pituitary gland release oxytocin which contract of myoepithelial cell and mother milk comes out from alveoli to the lactiferous duct and store in the ampulla.

AMPULLA

• The lactiferous ducts enlarge to form ampulla or lactiferous sinuses. the milk store in it.when the baby sucks the mother breast milk discharge through the nipple

LACTIFEROUS DUCTS

• Lactiferous ducts also known as milk ducts. the lactiferous ducts transfer the milk from the mammary gland to the outside of female body through the nipple.it opens in the tip of the nipple.