4,503
edits
Changes
Mammary Gland - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 13:01, 7 July 2008
, 13:01, 7 July 2008no edit summary
* Mammary adipose tissue is derived from mesoderm. This is required for complete mammary development and is thus absent in the male. As a result, mammary development in the male is halted at the epidermal sprout stage.
* Mammary adipose tissue is derived from mesoderm. This is required for complete mammary development and is thus absent in the male. As a result, mammary development in the male is halted at the epidermal sprout stage.
== Structure ==
''Suspensory apparatus''
Organised into lateral and medial laminae which anchor the udder to the body wall by their attachment to the pubic symphysis.
* '''Lateral Lamina''': collagen fibres from the fascia of the pubic symphysis and the edge of the superficial inguinal ring.
* '''Medial Lamina''': elastic fibres from the tunica flava ventral to the pubic symphysis. Separates the udder into right and left halves.
[[Image:Mammary Gland suspensory apparatus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center> Schematic showing the Suspensory Apparatus of the Bovine Udder. Copyright RVC 2008 (Courtesy of Proff.D.Kilroy (RVC))</center></small>]]
== Blood Supply ==
* In species with '''inguinal mammary glands''' (cow,ewe,goat,mare), the main blood supply is from the '''external pudendal artery'''. This arises indirectly from the external iliac artery via the femoral artery. The external pudendal artery passes through the inguinal canal.
* In species with '''inguinal mammary glands''' (cow,ewe,goat,mare), the main blood supply is from the '''external pudendal artery'''. This arises indirectly from the external iliac artery via the femoral artery. The external pudendal artery passes through the inguinal canal.
''Innervation''
* '''Sympathetic''': Innervation to the blood vessels and teat sphincter smooth muscle via the '''genitofemoral nerve'''.
* '''Somatic''': Ventral rami of spinal nerves. In the cow, spinal nerves L1-L4 and the pudendal nerve innervate the udder.
Mammary glands are mainly under the influence of endocrine hormones.
[[Image:Mammary Gland innervation.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center> Schematic showing the Innervation of the Bovine Udder. Copyright RVC 2008 (Courtesy of Proff.D.Kilroy (RVC))</center></small>]]
== Lymphatics ==
* '''Inguinal mammary glands''': superficial inguinal lymph node
* '''Inguinal mammary glands''': superficial inguinal lymph node
**In the Cow, there is also a degree of lymphatic drainage to the Subiliac (Prefemoral) lymph node.
**In the Cow, there is also a degree of lymphatic drainage to the Subiliac (Prefemoral) lymph node.