1. WEEK 1 – Assignment 1
Using the suggested outline below, write a detailed research paper on the breast . You
should employ scientific sources/literature including review articles in your research on
the topic (organ) and be sure to use the AMA format. There is no length limit on this
paper but it should be detailed, comprehensive, well-organized and should have the
appropriate language for scientific communication.
Organ Anatomy Outline:
- Introduction
- Size, Dimensions, Shape
- Surface Anatomy/ Landmarks
- Boundaries/ Relations
- Parts/ Divisions/ Layers/ Composition
- Supporting Structures
- Surgical Access To Organ
- Blood Supply/ Drainage
- Innervation
- Lymphatic Drainage
- Histology/ Microscopic Anatomy
- Embryology; Developmental Anatomy
- Normal and Pathologic Variants
- Normal Organ Physiology
Liberty University Master of Medical Science
BIOM 500
Anatomy of the Breast
Words: 648
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The mammary glands or usually known as “breasts” is an endocrine gland, located on the
front of the chest. In adult females, the breasts are composed of connective tissue, glandular
tissue and adipose tissue which determines the breast size, shape, dimensions and the texture of
the organ. Breast is an organ both females and males have. The structure for both sexes is almost
identical except that female breasts have the ability to produce milk via specialized lobules.
Breast enlargement starts the age of puberty in females. Whereas comparing to other mammals
in which breasts grow only at the time of lactation.
At the front of breast is a dark area of skin called the areola. The center of the areola is a raised
region that called the nipple. The surface of the areola has modified sweat glands, known as
Montgomery's tubercles, which determine the softness and elasticity of the areola by their
secretions. Sweat glands in the areola area also secret fluids that lubricate the nipple during
breastfeeding.
Each breast has fifteen to twenty lobes surrounding the nipple and embedded in adipose tissue.
The lobes surround the breasts in a radial manner. Each lobe contains several lobules. Lobules
are composed of small glands. At the acules of the lobules the milk is produced. Milk is secreted
into a duct end, which extends into the gallotmorphic duct. The gallotmorphic duct acts a small
milk storage. The milk is later carried to the nipples though small tubes called ducts. Fat and
connective tissue present in the area between lobes and ducts. Cuboidal or columnar epithelial
cells form the interior lining of the ducts. Myoepithelial cells form the external lining.
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The breasts are innervated by the sensory and autonomic nerve fibers of the fourth to sixth
intercostal nerves. Supraclavicular nerves from the lower fibers of the cervical plexus are
responsible for innervating the upper and lateral area of the breasts.
The tissue of the breast starts forming in the first trimester during the fourth week of pregnancy.
Breast tissue form along two lines starting at the armpit and extending to the groin.
The breast has blood vessels and lymphatic vessel that are responsible to transport lymph.
There are three main routes for the lymphatic drainage in the breast, The axillary or lateral
pathway, retromammary pathway and internal mammary pathway. The lymph is collected at
the:lymph nodes which are located at the underarm area, area superior to the collarbone, and in
the chest.:
As for the hormonal activity in the breasts, estrogen and progesterone hormones are responsible
for the function of the breasts and its development. Estrogen is responsible for elongating the
ducts and causing them to create side branches. Whereas progesterone is responsible for
expanding the number and size of the lobules. These effects prepare the breast for breastfeeding.
After ovulation, blood vessels in the breasts thicken and the breast cells grow by the effect of
progesterone. This cause the breasts to be filled with fluid and might be swollen.
At a recent research done, breast cancer hits one out of eight women in the US at one point in
life. However, most masses and lumps in the breast area are benign. In fact, non cancerous
conditions of breast tumor are much more common that malignant. The most common type of
benign tumor is fibroadenoma.
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Another pathologic variant in the breast area could be infections, medically known as mastitis, of
the breast tissue. This condition can occur during breastfeeding.
References
1.Breast Anatomy. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/8330-breast-
anatomy. Published February 11, 2014. Accessed May 16, 2020.
2.Conrad Stöppler, M. and Cunha, J., 2018.:Breast Anatomy: Learn About The Structure And Blood
Supply. MedicineNet.
3.Cirolla, V., 2017.:Breast Anatomy. [online] Research Gate. Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321011257_Breast_anatomy. Accessed 16 May 2020.
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