Cooper's ligaments
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cooper's ligaments | |
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Latin | retinaculum cutis mammae, ligamenta suspensoria mammaria |
Dorlands/Elsevier | l_09/12493187 |
Cooper's ligaments (also known as Cooper's suspensory ligaments and the fibrocollegenous septa) are connective tissue in the breast that helps maintain structural integrity. However, as with all ligaments, over time they may lose strength and tension in later years. Their role in the normal evolution of the aging breast is considered controversial.
In popular culture they are often blamed for the effects of aging. Samuel Shem (author of the "House of God") called them "Cooper's Droopers", referring to a lack of tension.
The term can also refer to the pectineal ligament.