Anatomy and Physiology— Breast

1. Anatomy and Physiology— Breast • Function: milk production and sexual pleasure • Tail of Spence • Cooper’s ligaments • Nipple • Lactiferous ducts (continues)

2. Anatomy and Physiology— Breast • Areola • Montgomery’s tubercles • Lobes • Lobules • Alveoli or acini • Lymphatic drainage • Axillary nodes: central, pectoral, subscapular, lateral • Internal mammary chain

3. Assessment • Assess the following areas • Breasts • Areolar areas • Nipples • Axillae (continues)

4. Assessment • Assess the following characteristics • Color • Vascularity • Thickening/edema • Size and symmetry • Contour • Lesions/masses • Discharge

5. Normal Findings • Breast and axillae are flesh colored • Areolar areas and nipples are darker in pigmentation • Moles and nevi are normal variants • No thickening or edema (continues)

6. Normal Findings • Minor size variation in the breasts and areolar areas • Usually breast on dominant side is larger • Nipples should point upward and outward, may point outward and downward (continues)

7. Normal Findings • Breasts, areolar areas, nipples should be symmetrical • Breasts are convex, without flattening, retractions, or dimpling • Free from masses, tumors, primary or secondary lesions (continues)

8. Normal Findings • No discharge from nipples in nonpregnant, nonlactating female • Usually, palpable lymph nodes less than 1 cm in diameter are clinically insignificant • Palpation should not elicit pain (continues)

9. Normal Findings • Consistency of breast tissue is highly variable depending upon age, time in menstrual cycle, and proportion of adipose tissue • Breasts are usually nodular or granular prior to menses • Variation with breast augmentation— breasts feel fluid filled or firm throughout