Lactiferous duct
| Lactiferous duct | |
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| Cross section of the breast of a human female. | |
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| Dissection of a lactating breast. 1 - Fat 2 - Lactiferous duct/lobule 3 - Lobule 4 - Connective tissue 5 - Sinus of lactiferous duct 6 - Lactiferous duct |
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| Latin | ductus lactiferi |
| Gray's | subject #271 1268 |
Lactiferous ducts form a tree branched system connecting the lobules of the mammary gland to the tip of the nipple. They are also referred to as galactophores, galactophorous ducts, mammary ducts, mamillary ducts and milk ducts. They are structures which carry milk toward the nipple in a lactating female.
Lactiferous ducts are lined by a columnar epithelium supported by myoepithelial cells. Within the areola, the lactiferous duct dilates to form the lactiferous sinus in which milk accumulates in a nursing mother. When a woman is not lactating, the lactiferous duct is frequently blocked by a keratin plug. This plug prevents bacteria from entering the duct in non-lactating women.
The columnar epithelium plays a key role in balancing milk production, milk stasis and resorption. The cells of the columnar epithelium form tight junctions which are regulated by hormones and local factors like pressure and cassein content. Prolactin and/or placental lactogen are required for tight junction closure while progesterone is the main hormone preventing closure before birth.[1][2]
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The majority of breast diseases originates from lactiferous ducts or are closely related. The high susceptibility to benign and malignant diseases is in part a consequence of the cycling hormonal growth stimulation resulting in a high cell turnover and accumulation of defects and complicated hormonal equilibrium which is highly sensible to disturbance.
- most breast cancers arise from the ductal epithelium
- phyllodes tumor and intraductal papilloma of the breast
- mastalgia is frequently caused by an imbalance of breast secretion in the lobules and resorption in the ducts
- nonpuerperal mastitis is frequently caused by a similar mechanism in combination with an infection
- duct ectasia is similar and overlapping with the above mentioned
- subareolar abscess and squamous metaplasia of lactiferous ducts
- most forms of fibrocystic breast changes and cysts are thought to originate from lactiferous ducts
[edit] Additional images
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Breast anatomy normal scheme
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ PMID 11479131 (PubMed)
Citation will be completed automatically in a few minutes. Jump the queue or expand by hand - ^ PMID 10819511 (PubMed)
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[edit] External links
- Lactiferous+duct at eMedicine Dictionary
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