Each lobe of the breast is made of many small lobules: clusters of tiny milk-producing sacs (acini) around the end of a duct. The lobule with its terminal duct is called the terminal duct lobular unit.
| Location | Throughout the glandular breast tissue, within 15-20 lobes |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Intercostal nerves (4th-6th) |
| Blood Supply | Internal thoracic artery (perforating branches); Lateral thoracic artery; Intercostal arteries |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Produce milk during lactation under the influence of prolactin; oxytocin squeezes milk out.
Most breast cancers, both ductal and lobular types, start in the terminal duct lobular unit. Fibroadenomas and fibrocystic changes also arise from lobules. Lobules shrink after menopause, which makes mammograms easier to read.
Breast cancer arising in the lobules, sometimes spread diffusely and harder to see on mammograms.
A common benign, mobile breast lump from lobular tissue in young women.
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