44 - Suspensory Ligaments of the Breast Are Similar in Structure to Other Retinacula Cuti in the Human Body

Poster Board Number: 44
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Co-authors:

Elianna Emerson - Midwestern University; Justin Georgi - Midwestern University; Margaret Hall - Midwestern University; Brian Mayer - Midwestern University; Erin Simons - Midwestern University; Dominik Valdez - Midwestern University; Henry Aaker - Midwestern University

Abstract Body : Objective: To visualize the suspensory ligaments in the adipose tissue found in the human breast and compare their anatomical similarities to the adipose tissue found in the lateral thigh



Introduction: The human breast is composed of a combination of glandular (mammary) tissue and adipose (fat) tissue. The glandular tissue is concentrated in a central structure called the corpus mammae within the breast. The adipose tissue is distributed throughout the breast and surrounds the corpus mammae within the breast pocket, which is formed by the anterior and posterior lamellae of Scarpa’s fascia. Standard medical education texts describe suspensory ligaments (of Cooper) that provide structural support and maintain the shape and position of the chest by attaching to the skin. Previous dissections have shown that these ligaments septate the fat of the breast and attach to the anterior lamella of Scarpa’s fascia, not the skin. Here we hypothesize that the suspensory ligaments within the breast are similar in structure to the standard retinacula cuti found in other fatty portions of the human body.



The human breast is composed of glandular, ductal, and adipose tissue. The glandular and adipose tissues are held together by suspensory ligaments called Coopers ligaments. These suspensory ligaments in the breast create separations between compartmentalized fat lobules and attaches to Scarpa’s fascia. The subcutaneous adipose tissue found in the thigh and gluteal parallel the suspensory ligaments found in the human breast. Methods: Standard dissection techniques were used to expose the subcutaneous tissue in the human breast and the lateral thigh. Adipose tissue from the human breast and lateral thigh or gluteal region were compared based on their similarities in structure.



Results: We dissected 2 female donor bodies and compared the adipose tissue found in the breast and lateral thigh or gluteal region and found that the lateral thigh and gluteal region contain suspensory ligaments that attach to Scarpa’s fascia similar to the suspensory ligaments found in the breast.



Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the lateral thigh and gluteal adipose tissue retinaculum cuti is the same tissue that is found in the adipose tissue of the human breast.