Anatomy and Physiology

1
Anatomy and Physiology Breast

• Function milk production and sexual pleasure
• Tail of Spence
• Coopers ligaments
• Nipple
• Lactiferous ducts

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2
Anatomy and Physiology Breast

• Areola
• Montgomerys 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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