Final career project for "Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life" by Mª Trinidad Valls Campos

1. Phases of how the neurobiology of
maternal lactancy works.

2. This is my niece Jessica and her newborn baby Javier.

3. This is little Javier breastfeeding from her mother's teat.

4. 1- Stimulus
● When Javier suckles the nipple, the sensory
receptors send the information to the brain, indicating
that it's necessary producing milk.

5. 2- Hormonal Release
● In Jessica's brain, more precisely in the
hypothalamus, the pituitary gland secretes prolactin
and oxytocin, that travel over the bloodstream until it
arrives to the mammary glands.

6. 3- Milk Production
● The prolactin arrives to the alveoli of Jessica's
breasts and activates the secreting cells responsible
for producing milk.

7. 4- Ejection Reflex
● When oxitocin contracts the muscle cell of the alveoli
from Jessica's breasts, it forces the milk out to travel
through the conducts until the lactiferous breasts.