The female breast or mammary gland is the organ that produces milk, which is necessary for feeding the baby. It is laid by a person already on the tenth week of intrauterine development .
Before the puberty, the milk ducts increase insignificantly, and during puberty the mammary glands begin to grow intensively, the milk ducts grow and branch, lactocytes develop, the glandular and connective tissues of the glands grow, lobules form and the number increases, and the areola and nipple pigmentation occurs. Full maturity of the breast reaches during the period of bearing the child.
How is the woman's breast?
The mammary glands cover the smooth skin. In the center of the mammary gland is a nipple with an areola, in which are sebaceous and sweat glands.
The structure of the female breast is represented by a glandular tissue with ducts of different diameters, fat tissue and connective, forming lobes.
The main structural component of the breast is the alveolus, which is a kind of vesicle. Its inside is lined with cells, the task of which is the production of milk (lactocytes). The alveoli is joined by nerves and blood vessels. During pregnancy, the alveoli increase, in order to start producing milk after the birth of the child. The association of 150-200 alveoli is a lobule, a pool of 30-80 lobules is a fraction. In the device of a female breast allocate 15-20 shares which have deducing ducts, merging with each other and ending in the nipple. Muscle fibers in the areola respond to the erection of the nipple.
Between the lobes and lobules is a connective tissue that forms a peculiar skeleton of the breast.
Features of breast functioning
The shape and size of the breast are determined by the ratio of connective, glandular and adipose tissue.
Hormones and nutrients in the mammary gland are delivered through the arteries. Outflow of fluid occurs through lymphatic and venous vessels. Inflow of blood to the breast increases during pregnancy, menstruation, sexual activity.
The structure of the female breast varies depending on the age of the woman, the phase of the cycle, the state of the hormonal background , the level of development of the reproductive system, the duration of pregnancy and, of course, lactation. Before the beginning of the monthly tissue glands swell, the chest becomes loose and swollen.
At 20-25 years, the breast with a homogeneous structure and the width of the premammary space is less than 5 mm. 25-40 years - the period of functional activity of the breast. Milky ducts lining the epithelium, on the walls of the mammary gland appear twigs with secretory vesicles. In the premenopause, the glandular tissue is dispersed. With age, the number of glandular parenchyma decreases, atrophy of fibrous tissue occurs. In the post-menopausal period, glandular tissue is completely replaced by fatty tissue.