Lactiferous ducts

Lactiferous ducts are the structures in the female mammary gland that transport milk from the lobules, where it is produced, to the nipple. They play a crucial role in the process of lactation.

Anatomy

The lactiferous ducts are a system of branching ducts that converge towards the nipple. Each mammary gland contains approximately 15 to 20 lobes, each of which is composed of many smaller lobules. The ducts connect the lobules to the nipple, allowing milk to be carried from the lobules to the nipple.

The ducts widen near the nipple to form a lactiferous sinus, which serves as a reservoir for milk. The lactiferous sinus is the portion of the duct that accumulates milk during lactation, before it is expressed out of the nipple.

Function

The primary function of the lactiferous ducts is to transport milk from the lobules, where it is produced, to the nipple. This process is facilitated by the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the contraction of the myoepithelial cells surrounding the ducts, causing the milk to be ejected into the ducts and towards the nipple.

Clinical significance

Conditions that can affect the lactiferous ducts include mastitis, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and intraductal papilloma. Mastitis is an infection of the ducts that can occur during breastfeeding. DCIS is a type of breast cancer that originates in the ducts, while intraductal papilloma is a benign condition characterized by the growth of wart-like tumors in the ducts.

See also

• Mammary gland
• Lactation
• Breastfeeding
• Mastitis
• Ductal carcinoma in situ
• Intraductal papilloma