Fig. 1
From: Re-evaluation of the myoepithelial cells roles in the breast cancer progression
Created with BioRender.com and adapted from the following references: [15, 16]
Schematic presentation of the main morphological aspects of the mammary gland: anatomical structure of the normal mammary gland composed of numerous terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs) embedded in the parenchyma of fatty tissues. A cross-section illustration of the ductal bilayer unit made of the inner layer of the polarized secretory luminal epithelial cells (LECs) and the outer layer of myoepithelial cells (MECs), all enclosed within the basement membrane (BM). The LECs secreted milk proteins during lactation. The MECs are connected to the LECs by desmosomes and the underlying BM by hemidesmosomes.