Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
7425910 
Journal Article 
Origin and Development of the Mammary Glands 
Alekseev, NP; , 
2021 
Springer International Publishing 
Cham 
Physiology of Human Female Lactation 
11-66 
The chapter presents data on the development of breast structure and function during various periods of a woman’s life: in the prenatal period, in the first 2 years after birth, during puberty, and during pregnancy. The onset of breast development, as well as early morphogenesis in the embryo, is due to mesenchymal-epithelial interaction with the help of autocrine/paracrine growth factors. The mammary glands of human fetuses achieve a rather high degree of development in structural and functional relation, by the time of birth. After birth, infant mammary glands for some time begin to function while continuing their development. The most intensive development of the breast begins with puberty and the appearance of a menstrual cycle in girls. The development and functioning of the mammary glands changes during this cycle under the influence of the steroid hormones, prolactin and oxytocin. Final breast development occurs during pregnancy and is highly dependent on reproductive and metabolic hormones.