Abstract
The term breast includes a variety of anatomical structures lying on the anterior aspect of the thorax. Contained within it is the mammary gland, a highly specialized cutaneous glandular structure, composed of elements involved in the secretion and ejection of milk. This gland is a well-defined dermal structure which has become too large to remain within the skin itself and has, therefore, invaded the underlying subcutaneous and fascial elements. The gland is peculiar to mammals and its development and structure are strikingly similar in even the lowest of this class. In the human, the gland is composed of some 15 to 20 lobules which originate from the nipple and areola, and radiate along the anterior and lateral thoracic wall (Fig. I).1 The mammary gland is only one component of the breast; other components include a variable quantity of fat, connective tissue, vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.
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© 1983 Plenum Press, New York
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Gould, S.F. (1983). Anatomy of the Breast. In: Neville, M.C., Neifert, M.R. (eds) Lactation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3688-4_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3688-4_2
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