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ARDMS BREAST REGISTRY EXAM AND STUDY
GUIDE NEWEST 2025/ 2026 ACTUAL EXAM 450
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+||NEWEST EXAM!!!
Describe the anatomic location of the superficial fascia
including the superficial and deep layers within the breast.
- ANSWER-- At the breast the superficial fascia divides
into the superficial and deep layers, which provide an
envelope containing all the breast tissues.
- The superficial layer is located in the premammary layer.
- The deep layer is located in the retromammary space.
What is the smallest functional unit of the breast? -
ANSWER-Acini
Acini are considered the : - ANSWER-Milk producing
gland
Approximately how many units are in each breast? -
ANSWER-There are hundreds of acini in each breast
Each acini gives rise to its own duct, called ____. -
ANSWER-The terminal duct
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What is a TDLU? - ANSWER-Terminal duct lobular unit
What structures make up the TCLU? - ANSWER-
Approximately 30 acini (equaling a lobule) and its
associated terminal ducts make up the TDLU.
What is the clinical significance of the TDLU? - ANSWER-
Nearly all breast pathology originates here
What is another name for the mammary layer of the
breast? - ANSWER-Glandular or parenchymal layer of the
breast
What is the axillary tail of spence? - ANSWER-The portion
of glandular tissue that extends from the upper outer
quadrant of each breast into the axillary region
The mammary layer of the breast is composed of epithelial
and stromal tissues. State the function of each tissue type
and name several anatomic structures that make up each
tissue type : - ANSWER-- Epithelium is the functional
tissue of the breast.
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- Epithelial tissue consists of acini, TDLU's, lobules, lobes,
and any part of the lactiferous ducts (including the terminal
ducts).
- Stroma is the supportive tissue or framework of the
breast.
- Stromal tissue consists of both the interlobular fat and
connective tissue (including Cooper's ligaments, loose and
dense connective tissue).
What is the anatomic difference between the lobules and
lobes of the breast? - ANSWER-- Several lobules make up
a lobe.
- Approximately 15 to 20 lobes make up each breast.
- One lactiferous duct arises from each lobe and travels
toward the nipple.
State the different portions of the lactiferous duct of the
breast beginning deep and ending at the nipple : -
ANSWER-- Interlobular terminal duct
- Extralobular terminal duct
- Interlobular duct
- Lactiferous sinus
- Collecting duct
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Name the 3 layers of the lactiferous duct : - ANSWER--
Epithelium
- Myoepithelium
- Basement membrane or adventitia
What is the function of the myoepithelium ? - ANSWER-
Propel milk within the ducts toward the nipple
Which muscle is most anterior -- pectoralis major or
minor? - ANSWER-Pectoralis major lies anterior to the
pectoralis minor
What is the scanning significance of visualizing the
pectoralis muscles ? - ANSWER-When the pectoral
muscles are visualized on ultrasound, the sonographer is
sure to have imaged all of the breast tissue and can
interrogate muscle invasion from a breast lesion
Which quadrant of the breast is glandular tissue slightly
more prominent? - ANSWER-- The upper outer quadrant
- Therefore, a larger percentage of breast cancers are
found here
ARDMS BREAST REGISTRY EXAM AND STUDY
GUIDE NEWEST 2025/ 2026 ACTUAL EXAM 450
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+||NEWEST EXAM!!!
Describe the anatomic location of the superficial fascia
including the superficial and deep layers within the breast.
- ANSWER-- At the breast the superficial fascia divides
into the superficial and deep layers, which provide an
envelope containing all the breast tissues.
- The superficial layer is located in the premammary layer.
- The deep layer is located in the retromammary space.
What is the smallest functional unit of the breast? -
ANSWER-Acini
Acini are considered the : - ANSWER-Milk producing
gland
Approximately how many units are in each breast? -
ANSWER-There are hundreds of acini in each breast
Each acini gives rise to its own duct, called ____. -
ANSWER-The terminal duct
,2|Page
What is a TDLU? - ANSWER-Terminal duct lobular unit
What structures make up the TCLU? - ANSWER-
Approximately 30 acini (equaling a lobule) and its
associated terminal ducts make up the TDLU.
What is the clinical significance of the TDLU? - ANSWER-
Nearly all breast pathology originates here
What is another name for the mammary layer of the
breast? - ANSWER-Glandular or parenchymal layer of the
breast
What is the axillary tail of spence? - ANSWER-The portion
of glandular tissue that extends from the upper outer
quadrant of each breast into the axillary region
The mammary layer of the breast is composed of epithelial
and stromal tissues. State the function of each tissue type
and name several anatomic structures that make up each
tissue type : - ANSWER-- Epithelium is the functional
tissue of the breast.
,3|Page
- Epithelial tissue consists of acini, TDLU's, lobules, lobes,
and any part of the lactiferous ducts (including the terminal
ducts).
- Stroma is the supportive tissue or framework of the
breast.
- Stromal tissue consists of both the interlobular fat and
connective tissue (including Cooper's ligaments, loose and
dense connective tissue).
What is the anatomic difference between the lobules and
lobes of the breast? - ANSWER-- Several lobules make up
a lobe.
- Approximately 15 to 20 lobes make up each breast.
- One lactiferous duct arises from each lobe and travels
toward the nipple.
State the different portions of the lactiferous duct of the
breast beginning deep and ending at the nipple : -
ANSWER-- Interlobular terminal duct
- Extralobular terminal duct
- Interlobular duct
- Lactiferous sinus
- Collecting duct
, 4|Page
Name the 3 layers of the lactiferous duct : - ANSWER--
Epithelium
- Myoepithelium
- Basement membrane or adventitia
What is the function of the myoepithelium ? - ANSWER-
Propel milk within the ducts toward the nipple
Which muscle is most anterior -- pectoralis major or
minor? - ANSWER-Pectoralis major lies anterior to the
pectoralis minor
What is the scanning significance of visualizing the
pectoralis muscles ? - ANSWER-When the pectoral
muscles are visualized on ultrasound, the sonographer is
sure to have imaged all of the breast tissue and can
interrogate muscle invasion from a breast lesion
Which quadrant of the breast is glandular tissue slightly
more prominent? - ANSWER-- The upper outer quadrant
- Therefore, a larger percentage of breast cancers are
found here
