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Learn more about your breast structure!
The breast is a mound of glandular, fatty and fibrous
tissue located over the pectoralis muscles of the chest
wall and attached to these muscles by fibrous strands
(Cooper's ligaments). The breast itself has no muscle
tissue, which is why exercises will not build up the breasts.
A layer of fat surrounds the breast glands and extends
throughout the breast. This fatty tissue gives the breast
a soft consistency and gentle, flowing contour. The actual
breast is composed of fat, glands with the capacity for
milk production when stimulated by special hormones, blood
vessels, milk ducts to transfer the milk from the glands
to the nipples and sensory nerves that give feeling to
the breast. These nerves extend upward from the muscle
layer through the breast and are highly sensitive, especially
in the regions of the nipple and areola, which accounts
for the sexual responsiveness of some women's breasts.
Because the breast is made up of tissues with different
textures, it may not have a smooth surface and often feels
lumpy. This irregularity is especially noticeable when
a woman is thin and has little breast fat to soften the
contours; it becomes less obvious after menopause, when
the cyclic changes and endocrine stimulation of the breast
have ceased and the glandular tissue softens. Estrogen
supplements after menopause can cause continued lumpiness.
The breast glands drain into a collecting system of ducts
that go to the base of the nipple. The ducts then extend
through the nipple and open on its outer surface. In addition
to serving as a channel for milk, these ducts are often
the source of breast problems.
The ducts end in the nipple, (which projects from the
surface of the breast), and are a conduit for the milk
secreted by the glands and suckled by a baby during breast-feeding.
There is considerable variation in women's nipples. In
some, the nipple is constantly erect; in others, it only
becomes erect when stimulated by cold, physical contact
or sexual activity. Still other women have inverted nipples.
Surrounding the nipple is a slightly raised circle of
pigmented skin called the areola. The nipple and areola
contain specialized muscle fibers that make the nipple
erect and give the areola its firm texture. The areola
also contains Montgomery's glands, which may appear as
small, raised lumps on the surface of the areola. These
glands lubricate the areola and are not symptoms of an
abnormal condition. Beneath the breast is a large muscle,
the pectoralis major, which assists in arm movement; the
breast rests on this muscle. Originating on the chest
wall, the pectoralis major extends from deep under the
breast to attach to the upper arm. It also helps form
the axillary fold, created where the arm and chest wall
meet. The axilla (armpit) is the depression behind this
fold. Each woman's breasts are shaped differently. Individual
breast appearance is influenced by the volume of a woman's
breast tissue and fat, her age, a history of previous
pregnancies and lactation, her heredity, the quality and
elasticity of her breast skin and the influence of hormones.
Breast consists of
Cooper's Ligament
A strong ligamentous band extending upward and backward
from the base of Gimbernat's ligament along the iliopectineal
line to which it is attached -- called also ligament of
Cooper.
Pectoralis
major
A larger chest muscle that arises from the clavicle, the
sternum, the cartilages of most or all of the ribs, and
the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle and is
inserted by a strong flat tendon into the posterior bicipital
ridge of the humerus.
Pectoralis
minor
A smaller chest muscle that lies beneath the larger, arises
from the third, fourth, and fifth ribs, and is inserted
by a flat tendon into the coracoid process of the scapula.
Connective tissue
A tissue of mesodermal origin rich in intercellular substance
or interlacing processes with little tendency for the
cells to come together in sheets or masses ; specifically
: connective tissue of stellate or spindle-shaped cells
with interlacing processes that pervades, supports, and
binds together other tissues and forms ligaments and tendons.
Blood vessels
Any of the vessels through which blood circulates in the
body.
Blood vessels
Any of the paired curved bony or partly cartilaginous
rods that stiffen the lateral walls of the body of most
vertebrates and protect the viscera, that occur in mammals
exclusively or almost exclusively in the thoracic region,
and that in humans normally include 12 pairs of which
all are articulated with the spinal column at the dorsal
end and the first 10 are connected also at the ventral
end with the sternum by costal cartilages.
Subcutaneous
fat
fat cells being, living, used, or made under the skin.
Infra-mammary crease: Infra- meaning below, mammary meaning
breast. The fold or crease under the breast where the
breast lobe meets the torso.
Breast
fat
Fatty tissue found above the glandular tissue of the breast.
The breast is mostly made up of lobules, milk ducts, fat,
and glandular tissue.Ducts: A bodily tube or vessel especially
when carrying the secretion of a gland, specifically breast
milk. esp. lactiferous ducts, milk ducts.
Glandular
tissue
Of relating to, or involving glands, gland cells, or their
products; specifically breast milk production. esp. lobules.
Nipple
The protuberance of a mammary gland upon which in the
female the lactiferous ducts open and from which milk
is drawn.
Lobules
The glandular part of the breast where milk is produced.
Breast envelope
The skin which surrounds the structure of the breast. |
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