Mammary Glands

What is the basic structure of a mammary gland?

Modified cutaneous (sweat) gland

What are the two main parts of a mammary gland?

Body and papilla (nipple/teat)

What is the function of mammary glands?

To nourish offspring

What are the secretory units of mammary glands called?

Tubuloalveolar glands

How many pairs of mammary glands do dogs typically have?

5 pairs (10 total)

How many pairs of mammary glands do cats have?

4 pairs (8 total)

How many mammary glands do pigs have?

14

How many mammary glands do cows have?

4

How many mammary glands do horses have?

2

What is the main artery supplying the mammary glands?

External pudendal artery

What are the two branches of the external pudendal artery that supply the mammary glands?

Cranial and caudal mammary arteries

Where do the mammary veins primarily drain?

Epigastric and pudendal veins

What is the name of the lymph nodes that drain the mammary glands in females?

Mammary lymph nodes

What structure surrounds and supports the mammary glands?

Fibroelastic capsule

What is the name of the septum separating the left and right halves of the udder in cows?

Intermammary septum

How many lactiferous systems does each mammary gland have in cows?

One

How many lactiferous systems does each mammary gland have in sows?

2-3

How many lactiferous systems does each mammary gland have in bitches?

8-12

What is the term for the onset of milk synthesis and secretion?

Lactogenesis

What hormone is primarily responsible for milk ejection?

Oxytocin

What is the name of the inhibitory factor that builds up when milk is not removed from the gland?

Feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL)

What is the process of returning the mammary gland to a non-secretory state called?

Involution

What are the milk-secreting units of the mammary gland called?

Alveoli/Acini

What type of cells surround the alveoli and help expel milk?

Myoepithelial cells

What is the area where milk is delivered from the gland called?

Papilla/Mamelon/Nipple

What connects the alveoli to the teat openings?

Network of ducts

In which species are the mammary glands located in the inguinal area?

Horses, ruminants, and pigs

How many mammary gland pairs do rabbits typically have?

3-5 pairs

What hormone is crucial for mammary gland development during puberty?

Estrogen

What hormone is important for alveoli formation during the luteal phase?

Progesterone

What is the term for the maintenance of lactation?

Galactopoiesis