Anatomy Of The Breast

The breast consists of a mixture of:

• Fat
• Milk glands - lobules that secrete milk during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Mammary ducts – canals that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple openings
• Fibrous connective tissue
• Nerves
• Blood vessels
• Lymph vessels – delicate vessels that collect lymph fluid from tissues and drain it back into the bloodstream
• Small amounts of muscle tissue

In the nipple to allow it to become erect in response to sexual stimulation or breastfeeding
Around the lobules to help squeeze milk into the ducts.
Key muscles support the breasts rom behind and underneath.
Breast size and shape is unique to each woman and is determined by heredity and body size. However, breast tissue changes throughout a woman’s lifetime depending on hormonal changes.
Breasts develop at puberty as hormones stimulate the system to form and enlarge lobules and ducts. Full development can occur any time between the ages of 12 and 19.
A woman’s monthly menstrual cycle causes breast granularity to change. Swelling and tenderness of both breasts may occur during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Cysts may grow and then shrink.
During pregnancy, the lobules multiply and begin to produce milk.
When a baby is born, milk is released into the ducts for breastfeeding (lactation).
During menopause the number of lobules decreases and those remaining shrink. A larger proportion of the breast is made up of fat so breast density decreases.