North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

The movement of milk from the lactiferous sinuses is referred to as what?

1. Let down

2. Milk flow

3. Lactation

4. Milk ejection

The correct answer is: Let down

The term that describes the movement of milk from the lactiferous sinuses is "let down." During breastfeeding, the let down reflex is triggered by the baby's suckling, which stimulates the release of oxytocin from the mother's pituitary gland. This hormone causes the muscles around the lactiferous sinuses to contract, facilitating the expulsion of milk into the nipple and making it available to the infant. Milk flow, while relevant, does not specifically denote the physiological process of ejection from the sinuses but rather can imply the overall movement of milk during breastfeeding. Lactation is a broader term that refers to the entire process of milk production and secretion that occurs in the mammary glands, not just the moment milk is released. Milk ejection can also describe the let down reflex, but it is less commonly used in clinical contexts than the term "let down," which is widely recognized and understood among breastfeeding professionals and mothers.