BIOAP 3410

Biology of the Mammary Gland in Health and Disease

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

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.

Prerequisites BIOAP 1100 or introductory course in human or animal physiology.

Distribution Requirements (OPHLS-AG)

Last 4 Terms Offered 2024SP, 2022SP, 2020SP, 2018SP

Learning Outcomes

• List the major anatomical and physiological systems of the mammary gland and articulate how they support the fully functional gland.
• Describe the developmental and regulatory events leading to the formation of a fully functional mammary gland.
• Name the major components of milk and trace their synthesis to specific precursors and biochemical pathways.
• Explain the events leading to diseases associated with mammary development and lactation.
• Evaluate the scientific literature in one area of high interest to mammary gland biology and articulate deeper knowledge of this area through a research proposal.

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