The macroscopic anatomy of mammary gland and its blood supply

Describe the macroscopic anatomy of mammary gland and its blood supply.

 The mammary gland is situated in the superficial surface of the pectoralregion
 Except the axillary tail which pierce deep fascia & lies in the axilla.
 Base lies vertically from 2nd to 6th ribs, the axis going throughmidclavicular line and
 Horizontally from lateral sterna edge to midaxillary line, the axis goingthrough 4th ICS.
 It lies on Pectoralis major, Serratus anterior &External oblique muscles.
 Separated from the pectoral fascia by loose areolar tissue calledretromammary space.
 Structure of the breast is divided into skin, parenchyma &stroma.
 Skin has a conical projection called nipple
 At the level of 4th ICS.

 It is pierced by 15- 20 lactiferous ducts.
 The pigmented skin surrounding the base of the nipple
 Is called areola.
 It is rich in sebaceous glands,
 which enlarges during pregnancy & lactation.
 Skin of areola & nipple are devoid of hair & fat.
 The parenchyma is made up of glandular tissue consist of 15-20 lobes.
 Each lobe is cluster of alveoli & drained by lactiferous ducts.
 Stroma is the supporting framework which is partly fibrous & partlyfatty.
 Fibrous stroma forms septa called suspensory ligament of Cooper and anchor skin & gland to pectoral fascia.

 Mammary gland is extremely vascular and supplied by
 Internal thoracic artery through its perforating branches,
 Lateral thoracic, superior thoracic & acromiothoracic branches of axillary artery and
 Lateral branches of posterior intercostals arteries.
 Arteries converge on breast & distributed from anterior surface &posterior surface i
s relatively avascular.
 Veins converge towards the nipple & form an anastamotic venous circle.
 The superficial veins drain into internal thoracic & superficial veins of lower neck and
 Deep veins into internal thoracic, axillary & posterior intercostals veins