The breast is the rounded structure on the front of the chest wall, present in both sexes but developing fully in women after puberty. It is made of the mammary gland embedded in fat and supported by fibrous bands (Cooper ligaments), covered by skin with the nipple and areola at its centre. It usually extends from the 2nd to 6th ribs and from the sternum toward the armpit, where a tongue of tissue forms the axillary tail.
| Location | On the anterior chest wall over pectoralis major and serratus anterior, from about the 2nd to 6th ribs and from the sternal edge to the midaxillary line |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Anterior and lateral cutaneous branches of the 4th-6th intercostal nerves; Sympathetic fibres (to smooth muscle and vessels) |
| Blood Supply | Internal thoracic artery (perforating and medial mammary branches); Lateral thoracic artery; Thoracoacromial artery (pectoral branches); Posterior intercostal arteries (2nd-4th, lateral branches) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Houses the mammary gland, which produces and delivers milk to feed an infant, and forms a secondary sexual characteristic.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and most cases start in the upper outer quadrant, where there is the most glandular tissue. Lymph drains mainly to the axillary nodes, so sentinel node biopsy of the armpit is used to stage cancer. Skin dimpling or 'orange peel' skin (peau d'orange) can signal a cancer pulling on Cooper ligaments or blocking lymphatics. Men can also develop breast cancer and benign enlargement (gynaecomastia).
A malignant tumour of the ducts or lobules, presenting as a lump, skin change or nipple change, or detected on screening mammography.
A common benign, smooth, mobile lump in young women.
Benign enlargement of male breast tissue from hormonal imbalance, medications or liver disease.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
