Page 1 of 41
Certified Breastfeeding Counselor PCE exam NEWEST
ALL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026-2027
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
QUESTION: What are the 2 types of breast tissue and what are they composed of? - ANSWER--
Parenchyma: ductal and lobular-alveolar structures
- Strom: connective tissue (fat, vascular, nerve, lymphatic)
QUESTION: What is an Alveolus - ANSWER-Small cavity where milk is produced and stored
- made of epithelial cells
QUESTION: What are Alveoli? - ANSWER-multiple alveolus
QUESTION: What is the Intra-lobular duct? - ANSWER-Connects a lobule to the lactiferous ducts
QUESTION: What is a Mammary Lobule? - ANSWER-10-100 alveoli combined together
,Page 2 of 41
QUESTION: What are Lactiferous Ducts? - ANSWER-connects mammary lobules/intra-lobular
ducts to the nipple
QUESTION: Breast Anatomy - ANSWER-
QUESTION: What surrounds the breast tissue? - ANSWER-Fat
Nerves
Lymph Tissue
Vascular Network
Myoepithelial Cells
QUESTION: What is the purpose of the Myoepithelial cells? - ANSWER-They surround the
alveolus and contract (like a muscle)
- pushes milk out into the ducts
,Page 3 of 41
QUESTION: What is the purpose of the Vascular Network surrounding breast tissue? - ANSWER-
- supplies nutrients, materials, hormones to each alveolus for milk production
- supplies hormones to the myoepithelial cells for ejection of milk
QUESTION: What is the purpose of fat surrounding breast tissue? - ANSWER-protection
support
provides space for growth
QUESTION: What purpose do nerves serve in the breasts? - ANSWER-Intercostal nerves 3, 4 and
5 deal with breast tissue
- innervation to the nipple tells the brain to produce oxytocin when breast feeding
- emptying of the alveolus tells the breast to make more milk
QUESTION: What are Montgomery's Tubercles? - ANSWER-Glands that secrete an antibacterial-
like substance that protects the nipples and areola.
- found on the nipple and areola
- enlarge during pregnancy
, Page 4 of 41
Q; Where does breast tissue normally develop? - ANSWER-Along the breast line
- located from under the arms down to the groin
QUESTION: What are the 3 stages of early breast development? - ANSWER-1. In utero
2. First 2 months of life
3. Puberty
QUESTION: Breast development during menstruation - ANSWER-- Estrogen: Induces Ductal
System development
- Progesterone: Induces Lobular-Alveolar development
QUESTION: What is Lactogenesis? - ANSWER-The initiation of milk production
QUESTION: How many stages of Lactogensis are there? - ANSWER-4
Certified Breastfeeding Counselor PCE exam NEWEST
ALL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026-2027
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
QUESTION: What are the 2 types of breast tissue and what are they composed of? - ANSWER--
Parenchyma: ductal and lobular-alveolar structures
- Strom: connective tissue (fat, vascular, nerve, lymphatic)
QUESTION: What is an Alveolus - ANSWER-Small cavity where milk is produced and stored
- made of epithelial cells
QUESTION: What are Alveoli? - ANSWER-multiple alveolus
QUESTION: What is the Intra-lobular duct? - ANSWER-Connects a lobule to the lactiferous ducts
QUESTION: What is a Mammary Lobule? - ANSWER-10-100 alveoli combined together
,Page 2 of 41
QUESTION: What are Lactiferous Ducts? - ANSWER-connects mammary lobules/intra-lobular
ducts to the nipple
QUESTION: Breast Anatomy - ANSWER-
QUESTION: What surrounds the breast tissue? - ANSWER-Fat
Nerves
Lymph Tissue
Vascular Network
Myoepithelial Cells
QUESTION: What is the purpose of the Myoepithelial cells? - ANSWER-They surround the
alveolus and contract (like a muscle)
- pushes milk out into the ducts
,Page 3 of 41
QUESTION: What is the purpose of the Vascular Network surrounding breast tissue? - ANSWER-
- supplies nutrients, materials, hormones to each alveolus for milk production
- supplies hormones to the myoepithelial cells for ejection of milk
QUESTION: What is the purpose of fat surrounding breast tissue? - ANSWER-protection
support
provides space for growth
QUESTION: What purpose do nerves serve in the breasts? - ANSWER-Intercostal nerves 3, 4 and
5 deal with breast tissue
- innervation to the nipple tells the brain to produce oxytocin when breast feeding
- emptying of the alveolus tells the breast to make more milk
QUESTION: What are Montgomery's Tubercles? - ANSWER-Glands that secrete an antibacterial-
like substance that protects the nipples and areola.
- found on the nipple and areola
- enlarge during pregnancy
, Page 4 of 41
Q; Where does breast tissue normally develop? - ANSWER-Along the breast line
- located from under the arms down to the groin
QUESTION: What are the 3 stages of early breast development? - ANSWER-1. In utero
2. First 2 months of life
3. Puberty
QUESTION: Breast development during menstruation - ANSWER-- Estrogen: Induces Ductal
System development
- Progesterone: Induces Lobular-Alveolar development
QUESTION: What is Lactogenesis? - ANSWER-The initiation of milk production
QUESTION: How many stages of Lactogensis are there? - ANSWER-4
