MAMMARY GLAND

Origin: multiple glands along paired epidermal thickenings, mammary ridges (milk lines).

Function: milk secretion under the influence of sex hormones (prolactin from the adenohypophysis and oxytocin from the neurohypophysis).

Anatomic features

• modified apocrine sweat glands.
• 15 - 20 irregular lobes of branched tubuloalveolar glands in subcutaneous tissue.
• interlobular spaces of dense connective tissue (fibrous bands) are rich in adipose tissue and contain smooth muscle fibers.
• intralobular spaces of loose connective tissue contain little fat.
• areola and nipple are covered with highly pigmented epidermis with sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and modified mammary glands (glands of Mantgomery).

DUCTS

• lactiferous duct opens through the constricted orifice onto the nipple is lined with stratified squamous epithelium.
• lactiferous sinus, a dilated portion of the duct, is lined with two layers of cuboidal epithelial cells.
• lactiferous alveoli are composed by a single layer of columnar or cuboidal lactocytes, and myoepithelial cells, that lie within the epithelium between the surface cells and basal lamina.