Defenition and location
The breast is a modified sebaceous gland the produces milk- a normal sebaceous gland is usually found next to hair follicles and functions in lubricating hair. It is located along the 2nd and 6th intercostal spaces of the chest wall.
Composition
- 12-20 triangular lobes of glandular tissue- that secrete milk
Collecting ducts that collect milk and unify it into central ducts - nipples- where all the ducts meet and supply milk
- Fibrous septa- connective tissue
- Fatty tissue surrounding the area
- Few muscle tissue- around the nipple (sexual arousal) and around the lobule (squeeze milk into ducts)
the subclavian system Axilla - Intercostals system
Description:
- 4 quadrants
The tail of Spencer- Clock face method of identification
The breast is defined as 4 quadrants with the nipple at the center. Using the clock face method physicians are able to describe specific feature on the breast with acceptable precision eg. A mass 5 cm away from the nipple at 2 oclock.
