A specialized accessory gland of the skin of mammals that secretes milk. The gland is typically only developed in females, and regresses in males. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammary_gland http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6601-2165 http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/BTO_0000817 ]
Synonyms: lactiferous gland glandula mammaria
Term information
- VHOG:0000398
- MA:0000145
- MIAA:0000073
- EFO:0000854
- EMAPA:17759
- UMLS:C0929301 (ncithesaurus:Mammary_Gland)
- null:http://www.snomedbrowser.com/Codes/Details/361720005
- null:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/umls/id/C0929301
- FMA:286452
- MESH:D008321
- MAT:0000073
- NCIT:C12367
- BTO:0000817
- OpenCyc:Mx4rvVjVq5wpEbGdrcN5Y29ycA
- null:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammary_gland
- EV:0100125
- CALOHA:TS-0595
uberon_slim, efo_slim, pheno_slim, organ_slim
Originally this was classified as a female reproductive structure, as it was in the MP in 2011
Any of the milk-producing apocrine glands typically occurring in pairs in female mammals and consisting of lobes containing clusters of alveoli with a system of ducts to convey the milk to an external nipple or teat. [TFD][VHOG]
The FMA class represents an individule lobe. The nipple is not a part
The MA class represents a composite structure, including the nipple, fat, connective tissue, smooth muscle as parts
The BTO class represents the combination of nipple plus lobe
The detailed similarities of mammary glands in living monotremes, marsupials, and eutherians argue for a monophyletic origin of these glands, perhaps by the combination of parts of preexisting sebaceous and sweat glands.[well established][VHOG]
The mammary glands of humans are in the thoracid/breast region. In other mammals they may be located elsewhere on the mammary ridges.
The male Dayak fruit bat has lactating mammary glands
A mouse mammary gland contains a single duct or sinus, forming 5-10 secondary ducts
Term relations
- exocrine gland of integumental system
- ectoderm-derived structure
- develops_from some mammary bud
- produces some milk