Chapter 5The Breast

Chapter Objectives

Upon completion of the chapter the participant will be able to:

  1. Discuss how the breast relates to the integumentary system.
  2. Name the structures of the breast.
  3. Label the structures of the breast on a diagram.
  4. Describe the normal functioning of the breast.
  5. Analyze, define and spell the terms common to the breast.
  6. Successfully complete the exercises found at the end of the chapter.

The breast is classified as part of both the integumentary system and in females as part of the reproductive system. Both men and women have breast tissue. The breast tissue is an extension of the skin itself and the skin will stretch to accommodate the developing breast tissue under it. Though development of breast tissue is normal in females, males can also develop breast tissue. In men it is abnormal to develop breasts and is usually the result of a hormone imbalance.

Breasts begin developing prior to birth. At that stage they are unrecognizable and consist of thickened tissue. As development progresses, in utero, groups of cells begin to develop into ducts and milk producing glands. Other tissue develops into the nipple, the protruding point of the breast and the areola or darkened tissue surrounding the nipple. From infancy to just before puberty, there is no difference between the female and male breast. Starting with puberty the female breast undergoes many changes. They begin to mature as the ovaries start producing the hormone estrogen. Breast tissue is very sensitive to hormonal changes and women note changes monthly as hormone levels change.

To understand the internal structure of the breast, it is easier to start at the nipple and move inwards. Opening on to the surface of the nipple are over 20 mammary ducts. Each of these ducts drains milk froma different segment of the breast. At the end of each mammary duct is a number of lobules. These are the milk-producing glands.

The medical term for the breast is the mammary gland (mamm/o, mast/o). Each breast consists of a series of lactiferous glands (lact/i, lact/o) which produce milk after childbirth and lactiferous ducts which direct the milk to the nipple (thel/o) for feeding.

Breast Anatomy

The mature female breast is composed of essentially four structures:

lobules or glands

milk ducts

fat

connective tissue

Revised August 2003

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Individual lobules group together into larger units called lobes. On average there are 15-20 lobes in each breast. They are arranged in a pattern similar to the spokes of a wheel moving out from the nipple/areolar area. The breasts of younger women are primarily composed of glandular tissue with only a small percentage of fat. Thus they are firmer than in older women. As women age, and estrogen decreases, the lobes lose muscle tone and are replaced by fat. This results in the breast becoming softer with less support.

Word Parts for the Breast

Roots

fibr/ofibers, fibrous tissue

galact/omilk

lact/o, lact/imilk

mamm/o, mast/obreast

thel/onipple

top/oplace

Suffixes

-archebeginning

-logystudy of

-opsyto view

Term Analysis and Definition

Word Part / Term / Term Analysis / Definition
fibr/o / fibroid / fibr = fibrous tissue
-oid = like / Tissue that is similar to fiber
galact/o
lact/o
lact/i / galactorrhea
lactogenesis / galact = milk
-rrhea = discharge, flow
lact = milk
-genesis = production / Discharge of milk from the breast after breast feeding has stopped
Production of milk by the breast
mamm/o, mast/o / mammary
mammography
mammoplasty
mastectomy / mamm = breast
-ary = pertaining to
-graphy = process of recording
-plasty = surgical repair
mast = breast
-ectomy = surgical removal / Pertaining to the breast
X-ray to diagnose problems in the breast
Surgical repair or reconstruction of the breast
Surgical removal of the breast
thel/o / thelitis / -itis = inflammation / Inflammation of the nipple
-logy / cytology / cyt = cell
-logy = study of / Study of cells

Revised August 2003

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