Learning About Breast Anatomy

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 cycle 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.

Maturity of the breast:

Once a young woman reaches puberty, and ovulation and the menstrual cycle begins, the breasts start to mature, forming real secretory glands at the ends of the milk ducts. Initially these glands are very primitive and may consist of only one or two layers of cells surrounded by a base membrane.

Between this membrane and the glandular cells are cells of another type, called myo-epithelial cells, these cells are the ones that contract and squeeze milk from the gland if pregnancy occurs and milk production takes place.

With further growth, the lobes of the glands become separated from one another by dense connective tissue and fat deposits. This tissue is easily stretched. This is where the natural enlargement formula comes in and allows the enlargement that normally occurs during pregnancy when the glandular elements swell and grow. The duct system grows considerably after conception and many more glands and lobules are formed. This causes the breast to increase in size as it matures to fulfill its role of providing food for the baby.

Female Changes:

Most women notice that just before menstruation their breasts enlarge and their nipples become sensitive and even painful. The texture of the breasts change and they become rather lumpy, with small discrete swellings that resemble orange pips in both texture and size. These lumps are glands in the breast which enlarge in preparation for pregnancy.

If pregnancy doesn’t occur, breasts return to their normal size and the glands become imperceptible to touch within a few days, ready for re-growth the next month. These changes in the breast are only one part of many changes that occur in the female body as the result of the monthly ebb and flow of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Aging Of The Breasts:

As we get older, our breasts tend to sag and flatten; the larger the breasts, the more they sag. With the menopause there is a reduction in stimulation by the hormone oestrogen to all tissues of the body, including breast tissue; this results in a reduction in the glandular tissue of the breasts. So they loose their earlier fullness.

Regular exercise would have however prevented or slowed down the ageing process. Much of the connective tissue in the breast is composed of a fibrous protein called collagen, which needs oestrogen to keep it healthy. Without oestrogen, it becomes dehydrated and inelastic. Once the collagen has lost its shape and stretchability it "was" believed that it could not return to its former state or condition.

The Effect Of Hormones On Breast Tissue:

The breast is responsive to a complex interplay of hormones that cause the breast tissue to develop, enlarge and produce milk. The three major hormones affecting the breast are estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, which cause glandular tissue in both the breast and uterus to change during a woman's menstrual cycle. Because of reduced hormonal levels, the breasts are less full for 1 to 2 weeks after menstrual flow; therefore, it may be easier to detect breast lumps during this time. Reduction of hormonal levels is also responsible for the breast's return to its pre-pregnant state after breast-feeding is concluded.

Breast shape and appearance change as a woman ages. In the young woman the breast skin is stretched and expanded by the developing breasts. The breast in the adolescent is usually hemispherical, rounded and equally full in all areas. As a woman gets older, the topside of the breast tissue settles to a lower position, the skin stretches and the shape of the breast changes. After menopause, with the decrease of hormonal activity, the composition of the breast changes; the amount of glandular tissue decreases and fat and ductal tissue become the predominant components of the breast. Reduction in glandular volume can result in further looseness of the breast skin.

Breast Enhancement: Growth Mechanism

Before one can fully understand how a breast enhancement or breast enlargement product works, one must have a limited amount of knowledge of what causes a female body to develop breasts in the first place.

Scientific research has concluded that breast tissue growth occurs as a result of the effects of estrogen, progesterone, prolacin, prostaglandins, and human growth hormone. It is important that all of these hormones be present in the body in the proper balance for normal breast tissue development.

During childhood, estrogens are secreted in small quantities. Following puberty however, the quantity of estrogens secreted under the influence of the pituitary hormones (FHS, LH) increases some 20 fold or more.

At this time sexual organs change from those of a child to that of an adult. The external genitalia enlarge. Estrogens effect on the breast causes fat deposition, development of the stromal tissues of the breast and growth of an extensive ductile system. Along with estrogen, progesterone and prolactin are secreted in higher quantities from the ovaries after puberty.

These two hormones are responsible for growth of the lobules and alveoli of the breast determining growth and function of these structures.

Progesterone promotes development of the lobules and alveoli of the breasts causing the alveolar cells to proliferate to enlarge and to become secretory in nature. However, progesterone does not cause the alveoli to secrete milk.

Unless stimulated by prolactin from the pituitary. Progesterone cause the breasts to swell partially due to changes in the lobules and alveoli, but also partly from increased fluid retention in sub-cutaneous tissues.

Scientists have proven that stimulating the estrogen receptors in the breast with estrogen or estrogen like substance (phytoestrogens) can actually increase the size of the female breast as much as 150%.

Factors Effecting The Breast:

Although the breasts of non-pregnant women are generally considered inactive, they undergo cyclic changes associated with normal ovulation. Many women experience a premenstrual increase in breast size and density. Many women also feel breast tenderness in relation to these changes. This slight engorgement is probably due to tissue edema (holding water in the tissue). Older women who have fibrotic lumps may experience an increase in pain, usually along the perimeter of the breast mass. The volume and density changes are thought to be resultant of the changing levels of estrogens and progesterone during the menstrual cycle.

Hormone therapy, such as birth contraceptives, can also influence breast density. A constant inrush of estrogens and progestins can simulate premenstrual breast changes, often making the breasts tender. During menopause the changes in gonadotropins, estrogens and progesterone induce changes in both glandular and ductal components. Without hormone replacement therapy, the number and size of the glandular elements decrease and the volume of the breast becomes smaller. Likewise, there is a loss of contour due to the decrease in structure.

During pregnancy, the numerous changes in the breast induce gradual increases in weight and size as it produces and stores milk. The lactating breast is continually changing density, and the sensitive nipple is extremely vulnerable to chaffing by fabric rubbing. Therefore, pregnant and lactating women are highly encouraged to wear appropriate supportive bras while participating in physical activities.

As we have seen, the lack of internal anatomical support of the breast structures requires some type of external support. Excessive movement of the breasts during physical exercise may increase this need for some women because of the structural changes during pregnancy and menstruation.

Shapes of The Breast:

	This is the perfect breast shape.
	The "swooping" breast is actually pretty common. Some maybe be due to lack of volume but no sag - it is actually among the better of the shapes to have if you're going to get implants. The nipples point upwards which is major asset in breast augmentation surgery. Of course breast shape can be hereditary.
	The ptotic, (saggy) breast with some volume is also very common. Usually after a pregnancy you will lose volume, have enlarged areolae and thinned skin due to stretching during the pregnancy. Breast feeding can affect the nipple structure as well - causing it to elongate.
	The ptotic, (saggy) breast with little to no volume is very common after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss and aging - or all four combined. Although many young mothers may experience this after pregnancy and breast feeding, where aging is not a factor. However it is truly dependent upon the individual.
	The ptotic, (saggy) breast with much volume will more than likely need a lift.
	This case is more common than you think.
	This is more of a breast anomaly than a shape. Often called "Tubular breasts" or "constricted breasts".
	This shape is usually due to herniation of the tissue, lobules and fat without proper containment by the connective tissue under the areolae complex.
	Pectus carinatum congenital chest deformity (pigeon chest) with ptosis: This isn't exactly a breast shape, per se, but rather a "deformity" or divergence of the chest. The ribs usually protrude as can the sternum. Sometimes the ribs stick out much further than the sternum causing lack of self esteem or self consciousness of the breasts.