Posts Tagged ‘The breasts’
Breast Cancer
WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?
The breasts are composed of fat, connective and glandular. In this tissue are the milk producing glands which are born 15 or 20 mammary ducts, to carry milk to the nipple, surrounded by the areola. These lobules and ducts are located in the stroma, adipose tissue, which are also blood vessels and lymphatics. The breast tissues are connected also with a group of lymph nodes, located in the armpit. These nodes are key to the diagnosis of breast cancer, since cancer cells spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system. When speaking of sentinel node refers precisely to the node nearest to the place where cancer is located.
Breast cancer is abnormal and disordered growth of cells in this tissue. The breast consists of a series of mammary glands that produce milk after birth, and which are called lobes and lobules. The lobes are connected by pipes, ducts, which are the leading milk to the nipple during lactation, to feed the baby. The glands (or lobes) and the ducts are embedded in adipose tissue and connective tissue, which, together with the lymphoid tissue, forming the breast. As a retaining wall, pectoral muscle acts which lies between the ribs and breast. The skin covers and protects the entire breast structure.
The lymphatic system consists of containers and vessels or tubes that contain and carry the lymph, a colorless liquid consisting of white blood cells, mostly lymphocytes. These cells recognize any substance foreign to the body and release substances that destroy the offending agent.