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Breast ligaments: an anatomical study

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Abstract

Background

Although the anatomy of the breast, and in particular the ligamentous system, has been widely studied for decades, there is still some controversy regarding some specific anatomical structures. The aims of this study were the ligamentous anatomy of the female breast through cadaveric dissection and to establish relationships with anthropometric and physiological data.

Methods

At the National Institute of Legal Medicine, we developed a protocol of cadaveric dissection in order to study the ligamentous anatomy of the breast. We performed the dissection of seven female cadavers (14 breasts).

Results

In each analyzed breast, the Cooper ligaments, suspensory ligament of the axilla, horizontal septum, and the inframammary ligament were recognized. We performed a statistical comparison between height and other parameters, including humeral length, distance between the suprasternal notch and the nipple, and suspensory ligament length.

Conclusions

This study allowed a greater understanding about the precise location of the different mammary ligaments using anatomical landmarks, including bony structures, and it confirmed that the inframammary ligament is present and related to the inframammary fold. This structure has been consistently identified in a constant anatomic position, and it is more frequently found at the level of the fifth rib.

Level of Evidence: Not ratable.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Doutor Agostinho Santos for supporting this work and all the elements that work at the National Institute of Legal Medicine for all the availability and sympathy.

Conflict of interest

None

Ethical standards

This study has been approved by the appropriate ethics committee and has therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Correspondence to Augusta Cardoso.

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Cardoso, A., Santos, D., Martins, J. et al. Breast ligaments: an anatomical study. Eur J Plast Surg 38, 91–96 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1024-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1024-7

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