Cooper’s ligaments run between lobes and lobules and span the breast from the corium of the skin to the fascia of the muscle. Cooper’s ligaments are composed of dense fibrous tissue.
They keep the breasts in their characteristic shape and position. In the elderly or in pregnancy these ligaments become loose, stretched, or may even fracture. As a result the breasts sag and they do not return to their former tension.
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In this 58year old female there are fine strands of connective tissue connecting the mammary apparatus to the skin anteriorly. These are called Cooper’s ligaments. The more carefully you look the more you will see them. Their posterior attachments to the chest wall are not visible on this image. Courtesy Ashley Davidoff MD 43647 |
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In this CT scan I have outlined the ligaments of Cooper in orange. Courtesy Ashley Davidoff MD 43647b03 |
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On mammography Cooper’s ligaments usually present as overlapping, criss-crossing, fine linear structures as seen in the overlay. Courtesy Priscilla Slanetz MD MPH 42873 Mammogram demonstrating the ligaments of Cooper. This network of fibrous connective tissue courses throughout the breast, providing structure Cooper’s ligaments usually present as overlapping and criss-crossing on a mammogram 42873 Courtesy Priscilla Slanetz MD breast normal anatomy support imaging mammogram mammography Ligaments of Cooper42873b02 |