Final answer:
Galactorrhea refers to the production of breast milk in a woman who is not breastfeeding, caused by an excess of prolactin. It is a phenomenon related to the mammary glands which normally prepare for lactation during pregnancy and require hormones like prolactin and oxytocin for milk production and secretion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Galactorrhea is the production of breast milk in a woman who is not breastfeeding. This condition involves the excessive production of prolactin, leading to the unnecessary discharge of milk, even in the absence of pregnancy or childbirth. The mammary glands, which undergo significant changes during pregnancy to prepare for lactation and breastfeeding, are responsible for the secretion of breast milk.
Normally, breast milk provides essential nutrients and passive immunity to the infant, but with galactorrhea, this milk production occurs outside of the usual context of postpartum lactation. Factors influencing prolactin levels and lactation include hormones such as prolactin itself, oxytocin, growth hormone, cortisol, and insulin. The mammary glands are composed of clusters of milk-secreting cells called alveoli, which are arranged in lobules and connected to lactiferous ducts leading to the nipple.
Understanding galactorrhea is critical in the context of women's health because it can signal underlying endocrine disorders or other medical conditions requiring further investigation and treatment.