Mammary gland or Udder - Cow

MAMMARY GLAND - COW

  • The mammary glands are modified cutaneous gland associated functionally with the genital organs
  • They are popularly known as “Udder”. They are compound saccular glands, four in number and two on the either side of the median line
  • They extend from caudal part of the abdomen to the floor of the pelvis and thus lie between the thighs
  • Each gland is flattened from above downwards and presents a base and an apex and two lateral faces
  • The lateral face is convex and the medial surface is flattened. The base is slightly concave and slopes downwards and forwards in adaptation to the abdominal wall
  • The appearance of the udder varies greatly, depending on maturity and functional status of the individual and also based on the breed character
  • The base of each gland is attached to the abdominal wall by means of a well-developed suspensory apparatus, which is attached to the ventral part of pelvic symphysis by means of the subpelvic tendon. This sub-pelvic tendon attaches the prepubic tendon to the ventral part of the pelvic symphysis
  • The suspensory apparatus (ligament) consists of four sheets of tissue.
  • Of which two are median and two are lateral in position. The median laminae are well developed and median in position and are chiefly made up of yellow elastic tissue
  • The two glands of either side are separated by the double septum, which attaches to the medial flat surface of the gland
  • The lateral laminae are made up of dense connective tissue
  • It arises from the subpelvic tendon caudal to the udder
  • It descends downwards, while reaching the abdominal floor they diverge into median and lateral laminae
  • The lateral laminae then extend downward over the udder and divide into superficial and deep layers
  • The superficial layer attaches to the skin where it reflects off the udder to the medial face of the thigh
  • The deep layer is thicker and attached to the convex lateral surface of the udder by numerous lamellae, which pass into the gland
  • The caudal part of the base has the supramammary lymph gland and a considerable amount of fat in relation to it
  • It is customary to divide the udder into four quarters. There is neither septum nor visible division between the two quarters of the same side
  • Each quarter is independent of the other as each is a compound saccular gland
  • A teat continues the apex of each quarter, which is about 7-8 Cm long
  • A prominent inter mammary groove marks the division of the udder into right and left halves. A single teat continues the apex of each quarter
  • Each teat has a single lactiferous duct (Ductus lactiferous), which widens superiorly into a roomy lactiferous sinus (Sinus lactiferous), popularly known as milk cistern
Last modified: Thursday, 9 February 2012, 10:11 AM