Mammary gland

/mˈaməɹi ɡlˈand/

/mˈæmɚɹi ɡlˈænd/

[noun]

Mammary gland

[NOUN]

a glandular organ in mammals that produces and secretes milk for nourishing offspring

synonyms : mamma

What is "mammary gland"?

The mammary gland is a specialized glandular structure in the breast tissue of mammals, responsible for producing and secreting milk. It is influenced by hormonal signals, particularly the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin, which regulate its development and function. The mammary gland plays a crucial role in lactation and nourishing newborn offspring, making it an essential component of the endocrine system and reproductive biology.

Examples

1. Instead, her milk oozes from mammary glands onto her belly, where her babies slurp it up.

2. Milk is produced by mammalian mammary glands, mainly to feed babies until they can digest other foods.

3. Prolactin helps trigger cells in the mammary glands to synthesize milk and fill up little sacs called alveoli.

4. Mammary glands, which secrete milk in lactating people, and ceruminous glands, the ones that make your cerumen, or earwax, are two other types of modified apocrine sweat glands.