[Development of the female mammary gland at young ages (morphometric data)]

By means of a developed method of histotopographical sections cartograms, 146 preparations obtained from female persons at the age of 8-25 years have been studied. The organ is intensively developing not only at 12-16 years of age, but at 22-25 years, as well. A close correlation is noted at 10-11 years of age between the mammary gland mass and the degree of its parenchyma (glandular tree) development. Subsequently, the connection between these indices becomes essentially weaker. At the age of 15-25 years, according to the variability and standard deviation quantile classes reflecting stages in the organ formation (the degree of the glandular tree development), five types of the mammary gland are distinguished: weak, low middle, middle, high middle and high. During transition of the mammary gland from the weak to the high type, at first the glandular tree is intensively developing in the periphery and in the internal parts, and then in the external squares and in the center of the organ. The degree of uneven development in the glandular tree increases when the middle type is reached. Subsequently, it decreases up to the initial level.