Sow Mammary Gland - Anatomy & Physiology

General Structure

• Usually 14 mammary complexes
• Arranged in two rows on the ventral side of the thorax and abdomen.
  • In most animals, left and right complexes not at the same transverse plane - arranged alternating.
    • Facilitates access of piglets when the sow is lying on her side.

• Each complex consists of two or three mammary units.
• Each unit opens with a separate orifice at the tip of the teat in a shallow depression.

Blood Supply

• Thoracic mammary complexes receive additional blood supply from mammary branches of the lateral thoracic artery.