Anatomy Of The Breast | The Breast Surgery Network

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The breasts are often an object of much adoration, scrutiny and obsession. Some will argue that we should be comfortable with our breasts as they are. In a perfect world all of us would have erect, firm, perky breasts in the size that we desire but since this isn't the case -- breast augmentation is used to achieve this desire.

Most of us really don't care to know what our insides look like, how they are formed and what muscle is named what. All we know is we want larger, firmer, better looking breasts. Period. Regardless, I have provided the below information so that if you so desire -- it's here.

The breasts are considered to be the mammae, an organ of lactation (to form milk) used to provide sustenance to our children. Granted we don't walk around pregnant or nursing most of our lives so what about the rest of the 90% of the time? We want them to look good no matter what stage we are in, don't we?

Development In Utero
The breasts begin to developing in utero at around 6-7 weeks post conception. It begins as a ridge of breast tissue running from the axillae (armpits) to the groin -- called the milk ridge. At about the 8 or 9th week. the milk ridge subsides in all areas (usually) except above the pectoral muscle. At about 16 weeks the cells begin grouping for the lactation glands of the breasts (called lobules). Although they are not yet formed they are at the beginning stage of organizing into the intricate ductwork that will once perhaps feed the embryo's own, future child.

The underlying myology (muscle) structure of the areolae complex (nipple and its surrounding disc of pigmented skin) will begin to form as well. Over the next several months the inner workings of the fetal breast will develop and define. During the last 2 months the lobules (lactation glands) will begin to produce and fill with a yellowish-clear or sometimes oily, milky substance called colostrum. This is a result of the mother's hormones crossing the placenta during the last trimester of the pregnancy.

Development After Birth
After the child is born the colostrum will resorb or leach out of the child's breast through the nipple. Both genders develop colostrum and have identical breast structure until puberty. The mother's breast will also produce this colostrum for the first week or so which is usually yellowish in color and is considered very beneficial for the child to consume soon after birth. The colostrum contains antibodies which destroy potentially dangerous organisms in the newborn child and hinders disease as well as has a laxative effect which helps the newborn pass the meconium, which is often a thick and tarry first bowel movement.

After Puberty
Up until pre-pubescence, both gender's breasts are the same. At this time, the female body produces estrogen and then progesterone which stimulates the sexual maturation process. While the ovaries are maturing the breasts undergo significant changes themselves. The breasts will enlarge and develop more fully for a time period anywhere from 3 to 4 years. Menstruation usually begins within 2 years of breast development. After functional maturation the teen is able to produce a milk supply in the event of a pregnancy and subsequent childbirth.

Even though during this time the breasts are still not truly developed in size, they are able to sustain life if need be. The breasts continue to further develop and reach their adult size anywhere from age 18-23. Further breast changes develop as the years go by and estrogen/progesterone levels increase. This can happen quite naturally or with the interference of synthetic and natural supplemental hormones. Such outside hormonal influences may be from birth control pills, shots or implants, human growth hormone (HGH), and even herbal remedies thought to increase breast growth such as wild yam.

Below you can see the breast, its lobules which group further into lobes, adipose (fatty tissue), milk ducts, connective tissue and the nipple/areola complex -- as well as the underlying pectoralis major and ribs. The Chest wall itself is covered by muscle and muscle fascia which is sometimes dissected to make way for a sub-pectoral or full sub-muscular implant placement. Almost all women will have the mammae attributes depicted at the right, only more or less of them.

There may be as many as 20 lobes in each breast, plus a collection of about about 5 to 10 larger milk ducts called collecting ducts. This is where a surplus of milk is emptied into awaiting removal by the nursing infant. There is also glandular tissue. Glandular tissue usually resides in the outer upper quadrant of the breast and feels like lumps or nodules of tissue. Many women who are not familiar with their breasts during a self breast exam may believe this to be a cyst or tumor. Many times it is only a gland although if you ever have any doubt or suspicion, please alert your gynecologist or primary care physician. You may also notice breast tenderness in this area if you are prone to such during both ovulation and menstruation. More often you will notice this right before menstruation.

Cooper's Ligament: a strong ligamentous band extending upward and backward from the base of Gimbernat's ligament along the iliopectineal line to which it is attached -- called also ligament of Cooper. In 1829 he published a work on the anatomy and diseases of the breast in which he described those ligaments which are the connective tissue attachments of the mammary gland to the overlying skin. The ligaments have since been named in his honor.

pectoralis major: a larger chest muscle that arises from the clavicle, the sternum, the cartilages of most or all of the ribs, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle and is inserted by a strong flat tendon into the posterior bicipital ridge of the humerus -- called also pectoralis major

pectoralis minor: a smaller chest muscle that lies beneath the larger, arises from the third, fourth, and fifth ribs, and is inserted by a flat tendon into the coracoid process of the scapula -- called also pectoralis minor

connective tissue: a tissue of mesodermal origin rich in intercellular substance or interlacing processes with little tendency for the cells to come together in sheets or masses ; specifically : connective tissue of stellate or spindle-shaped cells with interlacing processes that pervades, supports, and binds together other tissues and forms ligaments, tendons, and aponeuroses

blood vessels: any of the vessels through which blood circulates in the body

ribs: any of the paired curved bony or partly cartilaginous rods that stiffen the lateral walls of the body of most vertebrates and protect the viscera, that occur in mammals exclusively or almost exclusively in the thoracic region, and that in humans normally include 12 pairs of which all are articulated with the spinal column at the dorsal end and the first 10 are connected also at the ventral end with the sternum by costal cartilages

subcutaneous fat: fat cells being, living, used, or made under the skin

infra-mammary crease: infra- meaning below, mammary meaning breast. The fold or crease under the breast where the breast lobe meets the torso.

breast fat: fatty tissue found above the glandular tissue of the breast. The breast is mostly made up of lobules, milk ducts, fat, and glandular tissue.

ducts: a bodily tube or vessel especially when carrying the secretion of a gland, specifically breast milk. esp. lactiferous ducts, milk ducts

glandular tissue: of, relating to, or involving glands, gland cells, or their products; specifically breast milk production. esp. lobules

nipple: the protuberance of a mammary gland upon which in the female the lactiferous ducts open and from which milk is drawn

lobules: The glandular part of the breast where milk is produced

breast envelope: the skin which surrounds the structure of the breast.

During a breast exam you may notice the glands but not notice the ductwork. You may wonder if you even have lobules. You do, trust me, you just don't really feel them too much unless you are lactating, have a medical problem (inflammation, infection, galactorrhea, etc) or have a cyst or tumor. Please regularly have your breast exam by your gynecologist or primary care physician yearly. Also if you are of the age where mammograms are necessitated, keep your appointments. Please read more on Mammograms and Self Breast Exams.

Regardless all of the above contents of the breast envelope, this tissue is held to the chest wall and breast envelope by its breast envelope and connective tissue and strands of such called Cooper's ligaments. Care must be taken during surgery as so not to sever these ligaments. If this happens, breasts that droop can be a possible problem.

Breast Size
Breast size can vary from person to person although several deciding factors are usually the amount of breast tissue, body fat percentage, heredity and if you have been pregnant. After our breasts enlarge due to pregnancy they usually shrink post-partumly, called involution. Other changes result from having breastfed, estrogen and progesterone supplementation in the form or shots, implants or medications, hormonal disorders, menopause and lastly age. As we age our skin thins, we lose breast volume due to the shrinking of our lobules due to a decrease in hormones. We also lose body fat in areas where we want it, and seem to somehow selectively gain it where we do not.

Symmetry & the Breast
99.9% of women's breasts are not symmetrical. The breasts will have different volumes of different components, more tissue, less fat, larger lobules, more connective tissue - it happens. The nipples may be smaller, perpetually erect, inverted, or very prominent. The areolae complex may be large, small, non-existent, one larger than the other, be bumpy, have hair growth, be augmented due to herniated tissue/fat -- sometimes called snoopy. Breasts are not usually perfect in nature but with surgery they can be made significantly more symmetrical.

We Are All Different
I wouldn't think that we strive to have perfect breasts or to have breasts that have all the right angles and slopes. I think we all have an idea of what looks good to ourselves and usually fuller, perkier breasts with some variations thrown in appeals to many of us. Perky, full breasts are a sign of vitality and youth. And I think that we should be allowed to have a preference for any breast shape we desire and since most of them can be achieved surgically with some alteration of the breast envelope - then please go right ahead. Life is too short to be self conscious about something that can be changed.