Basic Knowledge of Lactation

8/2/2019 Basic Knowledge of Lactation

1/27

Basic Knowledge of Lactation


2/27

Definition of Lactation

describes the secretion ofmilk from the

mammary glands and the period of time thata mother lactates to feed her young.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammary_glandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammary_glandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk


3/27

How can it be possible?


4/27

It is possible due to the unique anatomy of

the mammary gland


5/27

Before we get into detail, lets see

what is mammary gland actuallymeans?


6/27

The breast generally refers to the front of thechest and medically specifically to themammary gland.

(The word "mammary" comes from"mamma," the Greek and Latin word for thebreast, which derives from the cry "mama"uttered by infants and young children,sometimes meaning "I want to feed at thebreast.")
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4267http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4267


7/27

How can we say the mammary

gland is actually full of unique

anatomy?


8/27

The mammary gland as a milk-producing

structure is composed largely of fat cells (cells

capable of storing fat). The fat deposits arelaid down in the breast under the influence of

the female hormone, oestrogen


9/27

Besides that,

Within the mammary gland there is a complex

network of branching ducts (tubes or

channels). These ducts exit from sac-like

structures called lobules


10/27

The lobules in the breast are the glands that

can produce milk in females when theyreceive the appropriate hormonal stimulation


11/27

The breast ducts transport milk from the

lobules out to the nipple.

The ducts exit from the breast at the nipple.


12/27

Last but not least,

the most vital anatomy


13/27

THE NIPPLE.


14/27

So, what is the function of the nipplesand surrounding pigmented tissue

then?


15/27

The nipple becomes erect because of the

stimuli of breastfeeding. Hence, enable the

nipple of the post-partum female is used by

the infant to breastfeed.


16/27

While,

The small darkened (pigmented) area aroundthe nipple is called the areola. (The word

"areola" is the diminutive of the Latin "area"

meaning a small space.) In pregnancy theareola darkens further and spreads in size. The

areola contains small modified sweat glands

(Montgomery's glands) that secrete moisturethat acts as a lubricant for breastfeeding.


17/27

Myoepithelial cells

Epithelial cells

ducts

Lactiferous sinus

Areola

Montgomery gland

AlveoliSupporting tissue

and fat

Nipple


18/27

Other than the anatomy,

hormonal influence play animportant role in human lactation


19/27

At puberty, released oestrogen stimulates

breast tissue to enlarge through growth of

mammary ducts into the pre-existing

mammary fat pad. Progesterone, secreted in

the second half of the menstrual cycle, causes

limited lobuloalveolar development.


20/27

The effects of oestrogen and progesterone

facilitate the formation of the characteristic

structure of the adult breast, which is the

terminal duct lobular unit. However, full

alveolar development and maturation of

epithelium requires the hormones of

pregnancy


21/27

Generally, lactation can be categorized into a

few stages :

Lactogenesis I Lactogenesis II

Lactogenesis III


22/27

So what is lactogenesis?


23/27

Lactogenesis (initiation of lactation)is a series

of cellular changes whereby mammary

epithelial cells are converted from a

nonsecretory state to a secretory state. Thisprocess is normally associated with the end of

pregnancy and around the time of parturition


24/27

Lactogenesis I

During the latter part of pregnancy, the woman'sbreasts enter into the Lactogenesis I stage. This is

when the breasts make colostrum (see below), athick, sometimes yellowish fluid. At this stage,high levels of progesterone inhibit most milkproduction. It is not a medical concern if a

pregnant woman leaks any colostrum before herbaby's birth, nor is it an indication of future milkproduction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colostrumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colostrum


25/27

Lactogenesis II

At birth, prolactin levels remain high, while the deliveryof the placenta results in a sudden drop in

progesterone, estrogen, and HPL levels. This abruptwithdrawal of progesterone in the presence of highprolactin levels stimulates the copious milk productionofLactogenesis II.

Colostrum is the first milk a breastfed baby receives. Itcontains higher amounts of white blood cells andantibodies than mature milk, and is especially high inimmunoglobulin A (IgA), which coats the lining of thebaby's immature intestines, and helps to preventpathogens from invading the baby's system. SecretoryIgA also helps prevent food allergies. Over the first twoweeks after the birth, colostrum production slowlygives way to mature breast milk


26/27

Lactogenesis III/ Galactopoiesis

The hormonal endocrine control system drives milkproduction during pregnancy and the first few daysafter the birth. When the milk supply is more firmlyestablished, autocrine (or local) control system begins.

This stage is called Lactogenesis III During this stage, the more that milk is removed from

the breasts, the more the breast will produce.Thus themilk supply is strongly influenced by how often the

baby feeds and how well it is able to transfer milk fromthe breast.


27/27

Basic Knowledge of Lactation

Documents

Transcript of Basic Knowledge of Lactation