246 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



THE MAMMARY GLANDS 



The mammary glands, which secrete the milk, are two 

 more or less hemispheric organs, situated in the human 

 female on the anterior surface of the chest. Though 

 rudimentary in childhood, they gradually increase in size 

 as the female approaches puberty. 



v 



FlG. 128. Mammary glands: i, Lacteal ducts; 2, glandular acinus (after 



Playfair). 



The gland presents at its convexity a small prominence 

 of skin, the nipple, which is surrounded by a circular 

 area of pigmented skin, the areola. The gland proper 

 is covered anteriorly by a layer of adipose tissue, and 

 attached posteriorly to the pectoral muscles by a meshwork 

 of fibrous tissue. 



