IBCLC Exam - Breast Anatomy Questions With Correct Answers

Gigantomastia - Answer Extreme growth of the breasts in pregnancy. Very rare. Potential hormonal cause. Milk Ejection Reflex - Answer Causes contraction of the myoepithelial cells. Requires oxytocin. Lactocytes - Answer Specialized epithelial cells that line the interior of the alveolus. Absorb nutrients, immunoglobulin and hormones from the blood to compose milk. Serum Placental Lactogen - Answer Aids in areolar growth. Oxytocin - Answer Secreted from posterior pituitary. Responsible for milk ejection. Rises in a pulse pattern within 1 minute of sucking and returns to baseline in 6 minutes. Contracts the uterus. Inhibited by pain, fear, stress, fatigue, alcohol and induction of labor. Prolactin - Answer Secreted from anterior pituitary. Responsible for milk production. Aids in nipple growth. Pregnancy levels 10-20ng; lacation levels 200-400ng. Progesterone - Answer Placental expulsion causes dramatic drop. Elevation inhibits prolactin. Causes glandular tissue to expand and the growth of lobules, lobes and alveoli. Estrogen - Answer Stimulates duct growth. Tail of Spence - Answer Mammary gland tissue that projects into the axillary region. Stroma - Answer Supporting tissues of the breast. Includes connective tissue, fat, blood vessels, nerves and ligaments. Lobes - Answer Clusters of lobules filled with alveoli. The breast contains 15-25 of these. Polythelia - Answer Extra nipples Polymastia - Answer Extra breast tissue Hyperthelia - Answer A nipple with no mammary tissue Hypoplasia - Answer Insufficient glandular tissue Common Nipple - Answer Protrudes slightly when at rest and becomes erect when stimulated Mammary Gland Development Cycle - Answer 1. Mammogenesis 2. Lactogenesis 3. Galactopoiesis 4. Involution Milk Synthesis - Answer Occurs in lactocytes. Controlled independently by each breast. Ranges from 17-33 ml/hour. Adipose Tissue - Answer Tissue made of fat Maternal Condition that Delay Lactogenesis - Answer Primiparity, Maternal age >30, cesarean birth, long stage II labor, fluid load in labor, diabetes, epidural, obesity, PCOS, Ovarian cysts, placenta retention, Sheehan's Syndrome, stress, prolactin deficiency, breast surgery