An anatomic study of a mammary gland twenty-four hours postpartum

Abstract

A breast from a primipara of twenty-seven years who died of uremia twenty-four hours postpartum was dissected.The fibrous body was found to be made up principally of ducts and acini with no greater proportion of fibrous tissue than was found between the lobules, although it was of a denser variety and contained practically no fat.Three definite fibrous bands connected lobules to the suspensory ligaments, and blood vessels coursed these bands.Two types of ducts pierced the fibromuscular sheath of the nipple. Those about the periphery soon branched into numerous lobules, and those entering at the central portion were composed of ducts only, with ramifications which appeared as sprouts extending to the third and fourth order.Development of new ducts and acini is by means of finger-like processes branching from already formed ducts and acini.The comparative anatomy and physiology of the breast was briefly outlined.The origin of blue dome cysts is suggested as originating in the central duct system.Fibrous tissue bands are responsible primarily for retraction of the skin and nipple in carcinoma of the breast.