During a modified radical mastectomy, which components are typically removed?

In a modified radical mastectomy, the primary components that are removed include the breast tissue, which encompasses the glandular tissue and skin, and a significant number of axillary lymph nodes. The chest wall muscles are typically preserved, particularly the pectoralis major and minor muscles, maintaining as much of the chest structure and muscle function as possible. This surgical procedure is designed to treat breast cancer while attempting to conserve underlying muscle to reduce complications and promote a better recovery outcome for the patient.

The selected choice highlights the correct components of tissue removal during this procedure, ensuring that cancerous cells are effectively addressed while considering the patient's anatomical integrity. In the context of the other choices, they either suggest a removal of components that are not typically involved in this type of surgery or misrepresent the scope of the operation.