A Suspensory System Involving the Udder of the Cow Allows the Animal to Carry a Large Amount of Milk
One of the important anatomical adaptations of the udder that allows dairy cows to carry large amounts of milk is the development of a suspension system for the udder. This system is formed by the median suspensory ligament (formed between pairs of mammary glands) composed of elastic connective tissue that originates from the abdominal tunic.
The lateral (nonelastic) suspensory ligament, which originates from prepubic and subpubic ligaments, enters the glands laterally at various levels to become part of the interstitial connective tissue framework of the udder. It is not unusual for heavy-producing dairy cows to have 25 kg (55 lb) of milk in their udder immediately before milking. If the suspensory support system were not in place, the mammary gland system would soon break down from the weight of the milk.
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