Breast

• Breasts


  • Paired mammary glands that lie over the muscles of the anterior chest wall
  • Divided into four quadrants by drawing horizontal and vertical imaginary lines that intersect at the nipple
  • Skin is smooth and varies in color
  • Nipple contains the tiny openings of the lactiferous ducts
  • Areola surrounds the nipple and contains elevated sebaceous glands
• Major axillary lymph nodes


  • Anterior (pectoral)
  • Posterior (subscapular)
  • Lateral (brachial)
  • Central (mid-axillary)
  • Supraclavicular
  • Infraclavicular
• Breast assessment


  1. Inspect for size and symmetry, shape, color, and skin surface with the client in a sitting position with arms at sides, arms overhead, hands pressed on hips, palms pressed together, and arms extended straight ahead as the client leans forward

  2. Inspect areola and nipples for size, color, shape, discharge, and texture

  3. Palpate breasts for temperature, elasticity, tenderness, and masses

  4. Palpate nipples for discharge

  5. Palpate lymph nodes in supraclavicular, subclavian, intermediate, brachial, scapular, mammary and internal mammary areas