1
IBCLC Exam Questions with Correct Answers
| Updated (100% Correct Answers)
When does the breast begin to develop in utero? Answer: 4th week
of gestation
Where does the primitive milk streak develop Answer: Bilaterally
from the axilla to the groin
By the 5th week gestation the milk streak becomes what? Answer:
Mammary Milk Ridge (or milk line)
Thickening and inward growth into the chest wall continues during
what weeks gestation? Answer: 7-8 weeks gestation
Between weeks 12 and 16 gestation specialized cells differentiate
into what? Answer: Smooth muscles of the nipple and areola
What forms the mammary pit? Answer: Lactiferous ducts and their
branches open into a shallow epithelial depression
What creates an inverted nipple? Answer: When the Mammary pit
fails to elevate
What is witches milk? Answer: After birth, a neonate's mammary
tissue (under the influence of maternal hormones) might recreate
colostral like fluid
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,2
At what age do the primary and secondary ducts grow and divide
and form the terminal end buds that become the alveoli? Answer:
10-12 years old
When does complete development of mammary function occur?
Answer: During pregnancy
What is superficial fiscia? Answer: Fibrous tissue beneath the skin
Where is the breast located? Answer: In the superficial fascia
between the second rib and sixth intercostal space
What are the two major divisions of the breast? Answer:
Parenchyma and Stroma
What makes up the Parenchyma? Answer: Ducts, lobes, and aveoli
What are alveoli? Answer: Small sacs where milk is secreted
What makes up the Stroma? Answer: Connective tissue, fat tissue,
blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.
What is Cooper's Ligament? Answer: Suspensory ligament that are
the fibrous connections between the inner side of the breast skin
and pectoral muscles. Help to shape the breasts
What does the nipple contain? Answer: 15-25 milk ducts, smooth
muscle fibers, sebaceous and apocrine sweat glands, and dense
innervations of sensory nerve endings
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
What are Montgomery Tubercles? Answer: Sebaceous glands in the
areola surrounding the nipple
What do the Montgomery Tubercles secrete? Answer: Oily
secretions (lipoid fluid) to keep the areola and the nipple lubricated
and protected
What artery(s) supply blood to the breast? Answer: Internal
mammary artery (60%) and lateral thoracic artery (30%)
Where does the lymphatic system of the breast drain excess fluids
from tissue space, bacteria and cast off cells? Answer: Auxiliary
lymph node
Where does the nerves of the breast mainly branch from? Answer:
4th, 5th, and 6th intercostal nerve
What nerve supplies the greatest amount of sensation to the
areola? Answer: 4th intercostal nerve
What part of the breast is most sensitive? Answer: The areola
followed by the general skin of the breast, and then the nipple
which is least sensitive.
What percent of breast milk is carbohydrates? Answer:
Approximately 7%
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, 4
What are the six infant behavioral "states" Answer: Crying, active
alert, quiet alert, drowsy, active sleep, and quiet sleep
Milk components that protect the infant/lactating breast actively
bind ______, preventing their passage through the permeable infant
_____ _____ Answer: pathogens
gut mucosa
How does the infant get the antibodies produced by mom? Answer:
antibodies are produced in moms blood, targeted SIgA which is
transported across the mammary secretory cells and released in the
milk.
What is sIgA? Answer: Immunoglobulin A is an antibody that coats
mucosal surfaces to prevent adherence and penetration by
pathogens
What are the most common food allergies? Answer: 1. Cow's milk
protein
2. Eggs
3. Peanuts
4. Tree nuts
5. Fish
© 2025 All rights reserved
IBCLC Exam Questions with Correct Answers
| Updated (100% Correct Answers)
When does the breast begin to develop in utero? Answer: 4th week
of gestation
Where does the primitive milk streak develop Answer: Bilaterally
from the axilla to the groin
By the 5th week gestation the milk streak becomes what? Answer:
Mammary Milk Ridge (or milk line)
Thickening and inward growth into the chest wall continues during
what weeks gestation? Answer: 7-8 weeks gestation
Between weeks 12 and 16 gestation specialized cells differentiate
into what? Answer: Smooth muscles of the nipple and areola
What forms the mammary pit? Answer: Lactiferous ducts and their
branches open into a shallow epithelial depression
What creates an inverted nipple? Answer: When the Mammary pit
fails to elevate
What is witches milk? Answer: After birth, a neonate's mammary
tissue (under the influence of maternal hormones) might recreate
colostral like fluid
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
At what age do the primary and secondary ducts grow and divide
and form the terminal end buds that become the alveoli? Answer:
10-12 years old
When does complete development of mammary function occur?
Answer: During pregnancy
What is superficial fiscia? Answer: Fibrous tissue beneath the skin
Where is the breast located? Answer: In the superficial fascia
between the second rib and sixth intercostal space
What are the two major divisions of the breast? Answer:
Parenchyma and Stroma
What makes up the Parenchyma? Answer: Ducts, lobes, and aveoli
What are alveoli? Answer: Small sacs where milk is secreted
What makes up the Stroma? Answer: Connective tissue, fat tissue,
blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.
What is Cooper's Ligament? Answer: Suspensory ligament that are
the fibrous connections between the inner side of the breast skin
and pectoral muscles. Help to shape the breasts
What does the nipple contain? Answer: 15-25 milk ducts, smooth
muscle fibers, sebaceous and apocrine sweat glands, and dense
innervations of sensory nerve endings
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
What are Montgomery Tubercles? Answer: Sebaceous glands in the
areola surrounding the nipple
What do the Montgomery Tubercles secrete? Answer: Oily
secretions (lipoid fluid) to keep the areola and the nipple lubricated
and protected
What artery(s) supply blood to the breast? Answer: Internal
mammary artery (60%) and lateral thoracic artery (30%)
Where does the lymphatic system of the breast drain excess fluids
from tissue space, bacteria and cast off cells? Answer: Auxiliary
lymph node
Where does the nerves of the breast mainly branch from? Answer:
4th, 5th, and 6th intercostal nerve
What nerve supplies the greatest amount of sensation to the
areola? Answer: 4th intercostal nerve
What part of the breast is most sensitive? Answer: The areola
followed by the general skin of the breast, and then the nipple
which is least sensitive.
What percent of breast milk is carbohydrates? Answer:
Approximately 7%
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
What are the six infant behavioral "states" Answer: Crying, active
alert, quiet alert, drowsy, active sleep, and quiet sleep
Milk components that protect the infant/lactating breast actively
bind ______, preventing their passage through the permeable infant
_____ _____ Answer: pathogens
gut mucosa
How does the infant get the antibodies produced by mom? Answer:
antibodies are produced in moms blood, targeted SIgA which is
transported across the mammary secretory cells and released in the
milk.
What is sIgA? Answer: Immunoglobulin A is an antibody that coats
mucosal surfaces to prevent adherence and penetration by
pathogens
What are the most common food allergies? Answer: 1. Cow's milk
protein
2. Eggs
3. Peanuts
4. Tree nuts
5. Fish
© 2025 All rights reserved
