Table of contents:
- The anatomical structure of the outer breast
- 1. The corpus (body of the breast)
- 2. Areola
- 3.Nipples (papilla)
- The anatomical structure of the inner breast
- 1. Adipose tissue
- 2. Lobules, lobes, and milk ducts
- 3. Blood vessels and lymph nodes
Every human being has breasts, both male and female. It's just that male and female breasts have very different functions. Male breasts are present, but they cannot develop. Meanwhile, in women, breasts will form after puberty and have a very important function as a source of production of breast milk (ASI). Maybe some of you still don't know what the anatomy of a woman's breast looks like.
The breast in women is a paired structure located on the anterior thoracic wall. Breasts contain mammary glands, their main function is for breastfeeding. Most women's breasts are asymmetrical, in terms of size and location.
If you look closely at your breasts, there is usually one breast that is slightly larger or slightly smaller. Likewise with the location, there is a little higher or lower, the point is that they are not the same size and are located.
The anatomical structure of the breast can be divided into two, the first is the structure that you can see with the naked eye, namely the outer anatomy of the breast. While the part that makes up the breast is located on the inside and is called the anatomy of the inner breast.
The anatomical structure of the outer breast
1. The corpus (body of the breast)
What is meant by the corpus is the circular part that is experiencing enlargement of the breast or it can be called the body of the breast. Most of the body of the breast consists of a collection of fatty tissue covered by skin.
2. Areola
The areola is the black part that surrounds the nipple. There are many sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and mammary glands. The sebaceous glands act as a protective lubricant for the areola and nipple. This part of the areola will experience enlargement during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Inside the areola, there are dilated ducts called lactiferous sinuses. This lactiferous sinus is responsible for storing milk in the mother's breast during the breastfeeding period until it is finally released 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.
3.Nipples (papilla)
The nipple and areola are the darkest areas of the breast. The nipple is located in the middle of the areola which consists mostly of smooth muscle fibers, which functions to help the nipple to form when stimulated.
During puberty in girls, the pigment in the nipples and areola will increase (so that they become darker in color) and make the nipples more prominent.
The anatomical structure of the inner breast
1. Adipose tissue
Most women's breasts consist of adipose tissue or what is commonly referred to as fat tissue. Fat tissue is found not only in the breasts, but in several other parts of the body.
In women's breasts, the amount of fat will determine the difference in the size of a woman's breasts from one another. This tissue also provides a soft consistency to the breasts.
2. Lobules, lobes, and milk ducts
Lobules are the mammary glands, one of the parts that make up the body of the breast, which is formed from alveolar assemblages as the smallest unit of milk production. The collected lobules then form lobes, in a woman's breast there are generally 12-20 lobes.
The lobes and lobules are connected by milk ducts that carry milk empties into the nipples (see image above).
3. Blood vessels and lymph nodes
Blood vessels and lymph nodes are also the parts that make up the breast. Besides consisting of a collection of fat, in the breast there is also a collection of blood vessels that are useful for supplying blood. Especially in pregnant and lactating women, blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the breast tissue and the blood vessels in the breast are responsible for supplying the nutrients needed for milk production.
While lymph is fluid that flows through a tissue called the lymphatic system and carries cells that help the body fight infection. Lymph ducts lead to small lymph nodes that are part of the lymphatic system.
Lymph nodes are located in several parts of the body, such as in the armpits, chest, abdominal cavity, and above the collarbone. In the case of breast cancer, the cells that cause cancer can enter through the blood vessels or lymph channels. If the cancer has reached this point, it is likely that the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.
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