Anatomy of female breast

Breast Position -Lateral Aspect of Pectoral Region

-Located between ribs 3 and 7 -Extends from sternum to axilla

-Surrounded by superficial fascia -Rest on deep fascia

Nipple -4th intercostal Space

-Hairless skin -Composed of collagenous tissue

-Smooth muscle cells -15-20 lactiferous open on to its

tip

Areola -its disk of skin which circles the

base of the nipple. -Melanocytes are numerous

-Varies in color from pink to brown depending on the race and parity

-Contains Modified sebaceous gland

-These glands enlarged during pregnancy called tubercles of

Montgomery.

The structure of the female breast is complex , it includes fat and connective tissue, as well as lobes, lobules, ducts and lymph nodes.

Each breast has a number of sections (lobules) that branch out from the nipple. Each lobule holds tiny, hollow sacs (alveoli). The lobules are linked by a network

of thin tubes (ducts). If the woman is breast-feeding, ducts carry milk from the alveoli toward the dark area of skin in the center of the breast (areola). From the

areola, the ducts join together into larger ducts ending at the nipple.

Spaces around the lobules and ducts are filled with fat, ligaments and connective tissue. The amount of fat in breasts largely determines their

size. The actual milk-producing structures are nearly the same in all women. Female breast tissue is sensitive to cyclic changes in hormone levels. Younger women might have denser and less fatty breast tissue

than do older women who've gone through menopause.

The breast has no muscle tissue. Muscles lie underneath the breasts, however, separating them from the ribs .

Oxygen and nutrients travel to breast tissue through the blood in arteries and capillaries — thin, fragile blood vessels.

The lymphatic system is a network of lymph nodes and lymph ducts that helps fight infection. Lymph nodes — found under the armpit, above the collarbone,

behind the breastbone and in other parts of the body — trap harmful substances that may be in the lymphatic system and safely drain them from the

body.

Conclusion The breast is a mass of glandular, fatty and connective tissue. The breast is made up

of:

lobules – glands that produce milk

ducts – tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple

fatty and connective tissue – surrounds and protects the ducts and lobules and gives shape to the breast

areola – the pink or brown, circular area around the nipple that contains small sweat glands, which release (secrete) moisture as a lubricant during breast-feeding

nipple – the area at the center of the areola where the milk comes out

Breast Development

The darker area of skin around the nipple is called the areola. On the areola there are some little raised bumps. These are normal and are called Montgomery glands. They produce

fluid to moisturize the nipple.

When breastfeeding

Once a baby is born, large amounts of milk are produced so the baby can be breastfed. The breasts changes it size many

times a day. Nipples can sometimes become sore and cracked, but this will settle down in time.

Before, during and after the menopause

hormone levels drop, and breast tissue becomes less dense and more fatty. stops having any lumps,

pain, or nipple discharge that used to have. And because the breast tissue is less dense, mammograms may be easier to interpret.

References -://http . .www mayoclinic org

-://http . .www cancer ca - https:// . .www breastcancercare org

- http:// . .www cancer gov -://https . .www kenhub com