BIOAP 5410

Biology of the Mammary Gland in Health and Disease

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024.

The course uses the mammary gland as the platform to illustrate the integration of physiological systems in the whole animal. Lectures cover the anatomy, development and endocrinology of the gland, composition and biosynthesis of milk and diseases related to mammary gland development and function. The information comes from a variety of mammals including the mouse for development, the dairy cow for production aspects and the human for diseases.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: BIOAP 1100 or introductory course in human or animal physiology. 

Comments Offered in even-numbered years only.

• Students will be able to list the major anatomical and physiological systems of the mammary gland and articulate how they support the fully functional gland.
• Students will be able to describe the developmental and regulatory events leading to the formation of a fully functional mammary gland.
• Students will be able to name the major components of milk and trace their synthesis to specific precursors and biochemical pathways.
• Students will be able to explain the events leading to diseases associated with mammary development and lactation.
• Students will be able to evaluate the scientific literature in one area of high interest to mammary gland biology and articulate deeper knowledge of this area through a poster presentation.

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