lactation

(noun)

1. The secretion of milk from the mammary gland of a female mammal. 2. The process of providing the milk to the young, such as breastfeeding. 3. The period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young; the lactation period.

Related Terms

Examples of lactation in the following topics:

  • Physiology of Lactation

    • Lactation is the secretion of milk from specialized glands (mammary glands) to provide nourishment to offspring.
    • Lactation describes the secretion of milk from the mammary glands and the period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young.
    • The chief function of lactation is to provide nutrition and immune protection to the young after birth.
    • In almost all mammals, lactation induces a period of infertility, which serves to provide the optimal birth spacing for survival of the offspring.

  • Energy Requirements

    • Lactate, created from lactic acid fermentation, accounts for the anaerobic component of cardiac metabolism.
    • At normal metabolic rates, about 1% of energy is derived from lactate, and about 10% under moderately hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions.
    • Under more severe hypoxic conditions, not enough energy can be liberated by lactate production to sustain ventricular contraction, and heart failure will occur.
    • Lactate can be recycled by the heart and provides additional support during nutrient deprivation.
    • Recycling lactate is very energy-efficient in the nutrient-deprived myocardium, since one NAD+ is reduced to NADH and H+ (equal to 2.5 or 3 ATP) when lactate is oxidized to pyruvate.

  • Breast Augmentation and Reduction

    • In a breast reduction surgery for re-establishing a functional bust that is proportionate to the woman's body, the critical corrective consideration is the tissue viability of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), to ensure the functional sensitivity and lactational capability of the breasts.
    • Moreover, the correction of gynecomastia (woman's breast) is the analogous, enlarged male-breast reduction surgery procedure, wherein there is no consideration of lactation capability.

  • Acidosis

    • A rise in lactate out of proportion to the level of pyruvate is termed "excess lactate," and may be an indicator of fermentation due to anaerobic metabolism occurring in muscle cells, as seen during strenuous exercise.

  • Placenta

    • Human placental lactogen is lactogenic and promotes mammary gland growth in preparation for lactation in the mother.
    • It contributes to the woman's mammary gland development in preparation for lactation and stimulates uterine growth to accommodate the growing fetus.

  • Slow-Twitch and Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers

    • Lactate (lactic acid), a byproduct of anaerobic respiration, accumulates in the muscle tissue reducing the pH (making it more acidic, and producing the stinging feeling in muscles when exercising).

  • The Anterior Pituitary

    • The anterior pituitary regulates several physiological processes including stress, growth, reproduction, and lactation.

  • Homeostatic Responses to Shock

    • Since oxygen is not abundant, the Kreb's cycle is slowed, resulting in lactic acidosis (the accumulation of lactate).

  • Ovaries

    • Progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy and the mammary glands for lactation.

  • Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

    • Participation in eccentric training and conditioning, including resistance training and activities that emphasize eccentric lengthening of the muscle such as downhill running on a moderate to high incline, can result in considerable soreness within 24 to 48 hours, even though blood lactate levels, previously thought to cause muscle soreness, were much higher with level running.