Breast Feeding and LactationAnatomy and Physiology

Produced by:
Neha Panchal
Aisha Mirenisha

Main Contents
Terms and Definitions
Anatomical structure of females breast
Physiological functions of females breast
Milk production of breast
Definition of colostrum
Composition and role of the colostrum
Period of the breast feeding

Terms and Definitions

Anatomical Structure of Females

Breast
breast sits atop the pectoralis muscle , atop the rib cage. The breast tissue extends
horizontally (side to side) from the edge of the sternum out of the midaxillary line. It is
important to remember that a tail of breast tissue called the axillary tail of Spence does
extend into the axilla.
Vertically: 2nd to 6th ribs; extension: below 7 th to 8th ribs (posteriorly: edge of latissimus dorsi).

Connective tissue and ligaments provide support to the breast and give it its shape. Nerves
provide sensation to the breast. The breast also contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, and
lymph nodes.
The breast tissue is encircled by a thin layer of connective tissue called fascia. The deep
layer of this fascia sits immediately on top of the pectoralis muscle, and the superficial layer
sits just under the skin. The skin covering the breast is similar to skin elsewhere on the torso
and has similar sweat glands, hair follicles, and other characteristic feature.
The male breast is nearly identical to that of the female breast, except that the male breast
tissue lacks the specialized lobules, as there is no physiologic need for milk production by
the male breast.

Anatomical Structure of Females

Breast
The breast is mass of glandular, fatty and connective tissue. The breast is made
up of:
Lobe-breast made of 15-20 pyramid-shaped lobes; every lobe contains 20-40
lobules
Lobes-Lobules-Lactiferous duct-Lactiferous sinus- Nipple

Lobule-glands that produce milk

Ducts-Tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple
Fatty and Connective tissue- surrounds and protects the ducts
and lobules and gives shape to the breast
Areola-the pink of brown, circular area around the nipple that contains small
sweat glands(Montgomery), which secret moisture as a lubricant during breast
feeding
Nipple-pigmented, cylindrical structure; the area at the center of the areola
where the milk comes out
Nipple and areola contains smooth muscle

Physiological Function of Females

Breast

The breast is an organ specialized for production of milk for lactation; to provide milk to
feed infant. Milk is produced and stored by the mammary glands and released through
mammary ducts and nipple;
Sensitive nerve endings in the nipple send signals to the brain to produce the hormone
oxytocin and initiate the release of milk.
Such as manual stimulation , hearing a baby crying, seeing a baby, can also cause oxytocin to be produce.
Oxytocin-causes the smooth muscle tissue surrounding the mammary gland to contract, forcing the milk
out of the mammary gland.
Breastfeeding can be a stimulation of the breast, in which sensitive nerve endings send signals to the
brain. This results in more blood flow to the nipples in response to the stimuli.

The internal mammary artery supplies blood to the breast, which travels under the
breast tissue.
The blood supply provides nutrients (oxygen) to the breast tissue.

The breast has many blood and lymph vessels.

The lymph vessels and nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which help to fight infections.
Lymph vessels are thin tubes that collect and move lymph fluid away from the breast to lymph nodes(bean
shaped masses).

Female Breast Development

Hormones of Breastfeeding
Milk is produced in lobules throughout the breast when they are stimulated by hormones in a
womans body after giving birth.
Many additional changes are seen in the breast tissue during pregnancy and lactation due to the changes of the
hormones.

Estrogen is the main female hormone. It influences females sexual characteristics, such as
breast development, and it is necessary for reproduction. Most of the estrogen in a womans
body is made by the ovaries, though a small amount is made by the adrenal glands .
Progesterone is the other female sex hormone made in the ovaries. Its role is to prepare the
uterus (womb) for pregnancy and the breasts for producing milk for breast-feeding
(lactation).
The breast tissue are exposed to monthly cycles of estrogen and progesterone throughout a
womans childbearing years.
In the first part of the menstrual cycle, estrogen stimulates the growth of the milk ducts;
Progesterone takes over in the second part of a womans menstrual cycle, stimulating the
lobules.