About this course: Lactation and especially milk, which is the product of that unique mammalian process, are routinely encountered within our daily lives. Nevertheless, they often are poorly understood by many, even including many who are engaged in the business of producing milk. The overall course goal is to introduce fundamental concepts that form the basis for understanding the biology of lactation, the biology of the mammary gland, and the products of that important physiological process. As a learner in this course, you will be provided with a series of easily understood presentations that collectively will help you build a foundation for greater understanding of lactation. You will be able to engage with other learners so that you can extend your learning beyond the video presentations. Ultimately, you will be able to construct your own mental model for understanding the wide range of topics that relate to the biology of lactation. Upon completion of the course, you will be prepared to expand your knowledge and understanding of lactation from other sources and experiences as you pursue your individual interests. Before you start the course, I suggest that you identify a question or several questions about lactation that you already have on your mind. This could be from your own experiences, something you read about or saw, or something you have wondered about. Write down your question(s) and use that to help you decide how to engage with the content of this course. You might engage with the modules in the order they are presented, or start with a module that is of particular interest to you, or pick and choose modules in any order. I encourage you to engage in all of the types of learning activities that this course has to offer, including but not limited to, the discussion forums, quizzes, peer-review assignments, and concept maps and other learning aids.
Who is this class for: This course is designed for anyone interested in lactation, milk, the mammary gland or related topics. No prior experience is required.
Created by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Taught by: Dr. Walter Hurley, PhD, Professor Emeritus
Department of Animal Sciences
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 8 weeks of study; 4–5 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Orientation
The series of videos and readings provided here are aimed at introducing this course in Lactation Biology. Course organization is described. Requirements for participation in the course are summarized. And, opportunities for learners to engage in the course co...
2 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes
Module 1: Introduction to Lactation Biology
In this module, we will introduce some basic definitions of terms related to the biology of lactation, provide an overview of milk, and briefly introduce the phylogenetic organization and evolution of mammals. Learning the definitions will be important for est...
8 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes
Module 2: Mammary Gland Structure
One of the most fundamental requirements for understanding any aspect of biology is to appreciate the relationships that exist between form and function, or anatomy and physiology. In the case of lactation and the mammary gland, it is important to be able to v...
19 videos, 2 readings, 4 practice quizzes
Graded: Week 1 Quiz
WEEK 2
Module 3: Milk Composition
Milk is the product of the lactation process. Such a simple statement does not come close to doing justice to the complex nature of this biological fluid. In this module, we explore the major components of milk, as well as provide a basis for understanding mil...
27 videos, 2 readings, 6 practice quizzes
Graded: Week 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
Module 4: Mammary Gland Development
The tissue that we know of as the mammary gland (or udder or breast) may appear as relatively uncomplicated compared with some internal organs such as the heart or brain. The gland is outside the body wall, has a nipple or teat in most species, and has a serie...
11 videos, 2 readings, 3 practice quizzes
Graded: Week 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
Module 5: Mother & Neonate
The peripartum period, the time shortly before, during, and after giving birth, is a time of rapid changes in the mammary gland, the mother, and the neonate. Extensive physiological coordination occurs between the processes leading up to and giving birth, the ...
17 videos, 2 readings, 5 practice quizzes
Graded: Week 4 Quiz
Graded: Share a Milking Example
WEEK 5
Module 6: Lactation
In this module, we explore the many facets of lactation as a complex physiological process. We will find that removal of the milk in the gland is critical to continued production of that fluid. The interactions between milk removal, the systemic factors stimul...
27 videos, 2 readings, 4 practice quizzes
Graded: Week 5 Quiz
WEEK 6
Module 7: Milk Ejection
This module introduces the physiological process known as the milk ejection reflex. The neural and endocrine pathways of this process are discussed, as is a broad overview of the hormone responsible for milk ejection, oxytocin. In addition, the consequences of...
15 videos, 2 readings, 3 practice quizzes
Module 8: Atypical Lactation
We typically assume that development of the mammary gland and production of milk are closely regulated by and are coordinated with the reproductive functioning of the animal. Most often that is true. From the knowledge gained from other modules in this course,...
7 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz
Graded: Week 6 Quiz
Graded: Phenomenon Related to Lactation
WEEK 7
Module 9: Mastitis
The mammary gland is an excretory gland, meaning that it produces a fluid that is secreted to the outside of the body. These secretions leave the gland through a series of ducts that eventually open to the outside of the skin. The presence of these openings no...
19 videos, 3 readings, 4 practice quizzes
Graded: Week 7 Quiz
Graded: Mastitis Cases
WEEK 8
Module 10: Comparative Lactation
In this module, we provide a series of videos that expands what has already been learned in other modules about the basic principles of lactation biology to a range of mammalian species. These videos focus on these animals in their native state, as well as som...
21 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz
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