Mammary ridge

Mammary ridge also known as the milk line or mammary line is a primitive structure in the embryo that eventually gives rise to the mammary glands. It is a thickened band of ectoderm from which the mammary glands develop. The mammary ridge extends from the axilla (armpit) to the groin area on both sides of the body.

Etymology

The term "mammary" is derived from the Latin word "mamma" which means "breast". The term "ridge" refers to a long, narrow elevated section or a raised strip.

Development

The mammary ridge appears in the sixth week of embryonic development. It starts as a thickening of the ectoderm, the outermost layer of the embryo. This thickening extends from the axilla to the groin on both sides of the body. The ridge then develops into a series of buds, which eventually form the mammary glands.

Related Terms

• Ectoderm: The outermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development, or the parts derived from this, which include the epidermis, nerve tissue, and nephridia.
• Mammary gland: The milk-producing gland in women and other female mammals, typically paired and each divided into lobes; they are modified sweat glands and are the characteristic of mammals which gave the group its name.
• Axilla: The armpit or the cavity beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder.
• Groin: The area of the body where the abdomen ends and the legs begin.

See Also

• Mammary gland development
• Embryonic development
• Ectoderm

References

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