Lactiferous ducts are the main milk ducts of the breast, one draining each lobe. They run toward the nipple, widening slightly beneath the areola, and open separately on the nipple surface. Modern ultrasound studies show the dilation under the areola is small, so the classic 'lactiferous sinus' is no longer thought to store much milk.
| Location | Within the breast, converging from the lobes to the nipple |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|
Carry milk from the lobes of the mammary gland to the nipple.
Most breast cancers are ductal, arising in the cells lining the ducts and terminal duct lobular units. Benign duct papillomas can cause bloody nipple discharge. Widening of the ducts with thick secretions (duct ectasia) is common around menopause and can cause discharge, nipple retraction or inflammation.
Cancer cells confined within the ducts, often detected as microcalcifications on mammography.
A benign growth inside a duct that can cause bloody or clear nipple discharge.
Widening and inflammation of the subareolar ducts, causing discharge, pain or nipple retraction.
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