6 Unique facts about the areola you should know & bull; hello healthy

Everyone needs to understand the shape and function of his own body parts. Well, one part of the body that is important to note is the areola. Do you know what an areola is and what it does? Check out the full review regarding that one body part here.

Overview of the anatomy of the areola

Both men and women have breasts. In general, the male breast structure is almost the same as the female breast. The difference is, male breasts do not develop. On the other hand, a woman's breasts develop only after puberty, which serves as a source of milk production.

On the outside of the breast are the nipple, areola, and breast body. The nipple is located in the very center of the body of the breast and connects to the mammary glands, where milk is produced. While the aerola is the dark part that surrounds the nipple.

This part of the body contains many glands, one of which is Montgomery's glands. These glands produce oil that acts as a lubricant and protector for the areola and nipple. This gland will also later become enlarged during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Inside the areola, there is a lactiferous sinus tract to store milk in the mother's breast during the breastfeeding period until it is finally expelled to the baby. Cells that play a role in the movement of the areola during breastfeeding are called myoepithelial cells, which are used to encourage the release of milk.

Various interesting facts about the breast areola

Here are some facts about the areola that you may not have known:

1. Areola can grow fine hair

Don't panic right away when you find fine hair growing on the areola area. The growth of fine hair around the nipples is normal.

In many cases, the growth of fine hair in this area is more common in men than women. This can happen due to hormonal influences and genetic factors.

If the small hair growth around this area makes you uncomfortable, you can trim it with small scissors. However, you are not recommended to pull it out, as it can cause infection and ingrown hair.

If you feel that the growth of fine hair around the nipples has occurred recently and is accompanied by other complaints such as menstrual disorders, immediately check with the nearest doctor.

2. Has a smell like amniotic fluid

Around the edge of the areola there are small bumps called Montgomery glands. When breastfeeding, these glands will produce a scent that only babies can detect. The scent produced by Montgomery's glands is similar to amniotic fluid, which is familiar to the baby while he is in the womb.

Well, this smell is what helps your baby find the breasts during the early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD). Therefore, during the IMD process, doctors usually advise mothers not to help the baby, or to deliberately push the baby closer to the nipple. This is done solely so that the whole process of interaction between mother and newborn runs naturally.

Interestingly, the more Montgomery glands a mother has, the easier it will be for the baby to reach the mother's breast during an IMD.

3. The color can change

Basically, everyone has a different areola color, depending on the type of skin and skin color they were born with. Some look brown, black, or even pink.

But generally, a person will find the areola color that is darker than usual when he gets sexual stimulation in the area. So, apart from the nipple, it turns out that this part also reacts when you get sexual stimulation at that point.

Not only that, this one part of the body can also experience a darker discoloration when cold temperatures occur, are pregnant and breastfeeding, or as a person gets older.

4. Two nipples on one areola

Yes! A person may have two nipples just above their area. In general, these additional nipples will not develop into full, normal breasts when a person hits puberty.

However, if over time the same glandular tissue is found as a normal nipple, then this additional nipple can function normally as a normal nipple. In fact, it is not impossible that the additional nipples can release milk. In this case, the additional nipple will function like a normal breast and nipple, except that it is found in another location of the body.

Unfortunately, if the extra nipple is found just above the normal nipple position, this condition will make it difficult for the baby to breastfeed, says Norman A. Grossl in the Southern Medical Journal, quoted by BBC Future.

5. The diameter of the areola is smaller than that of a golf ball

Everyone has a different size and shape of the areola. However, a study in 2009 found unique facts about this one part of the body.

The study, which involved 300 women, found that the average diameter of the aerola women have is about 4 cm or smaller than a golf ball. Meanwhile, the diameter and height of women's nipples averaged 1.3 cm and 0.9 cm.

The areola diameter will usually increase significantly when a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding. Not only that, but a woman's nipples can also get longer and widen during this time.

6. A person may not have an areola at all

Athelia is a condition when a person is born without nipples and ereola. Although this condition is rare, children born with conditions such as Polish syndrome and ectodermal dysplasia are at a higher risk of developing it.

Not having nipples and areola will not cause complications. However, this condition will certainly make it difficult for women to breastfeed their babies.

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