What is the function of Cooper's ligaments in the breast?

• A. Provides the skeletal framework of the breast
• B. Produces milk
• C. Supplies blood to tissue
• D. Causes acoustic shadowing

Answer: (A)

Cooper's ligaments are the fibrous connective tissue bands that suspend breast tissue from the skin and anchor it to deeper chest wall structures. They form the supportive framework that helps maintain the breast’s shape and position, supporting the parenchyma and helping resist gravitational sag. In ultrasound, these ligaments appear as thin echogenic strands extending from the dermis toward the pectoral fascia. They are not responsible for milk production, they do not supply blood to the tissue, and they do not cause acoustic shadowing.