The breast is the upper front part of the human body between the shoulders and the stomach. The breast is commonly called the chest or the thorax. The breast is a large, comma-shaped organ, with the tail of the breast (the comma portion), extending into the axilla (armpit.) The mammary glands fill the breast. Mammary glands are present in both males and females, and are more prominent in females.
Function
Milk glands lie in the upper portion of the breasts, and are responsible for the production of milk.
Once the milk glands produce milk, the milk empties into the openings of the nipple.
As the baby sucks the areola, nerves in the nipple are stimulated, sending messages to the brain to secrete prolactin, which aids in the continuation of milk production. The milk the baby receives at first is thin skim milk, and then creamier milk follows, which is high in fat and protein-rich. The more your baby breastfeeds, the more milk your body will produce. The less your baby breastfeeds, the less milk your body will produce.
Features
The nipple is the part of the breast that infants suck to get their milk.
The areola contains sebaceous glands, which aid in the lubrication of the nipple while breastfeeding.
The adipose tissue provides the breasts its bulk and also holds the milk duct systems.
Cooper's ligaments are ligaments that acts as a support system for the breasts. They hold the tissues together. With age, Cooper's ligaments become rigid, which causes breasts to sag.
The milk duct systems carries out the job of the mammary glands. Lactogenic hormone stimulates milk production during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Concerns
It is estimated that one in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. The statistics for men with breast cancer is much lower.
A breast lump is a swelling of the breast or a protruding outward. Common causes of breast lumps are fibrocystic changes, fibroadenomas and cysts. Women can get breast lumps called milk cysts during breastfeeding.
Breast cysts are sacs within your breasts that are filled with fluid. Excess estrogen in the body is believed to be the cause of breast cysts.
Breast infection (mastitis) is caused by bacteria entering an opening in the nipple causing swelling and pain. It usually occurs in women who are breastfeeding.
Breast Cancer
Symptoms of breast cancer are as follows: Lump (thickening) in breasts or armpit, shape or size of breasts change, discharge from the nipple, redness or scaling of the skin or nipple, and ridges on the breast skin or pitting of the breast.
Cells that grow abnormally or grow out of control are tumors. Tumors can be benign (do not spread throughout the body) or malignant (do spread throughout the body).
A woman's chance of getting breast cancer increases with age.
Some causes of breast cancer include: HRT (hormonal replacement therapy), consuming more than five alcoholic beverages per week and smoking. Obesity also increases the chances of breast cancer.
Warning
Do your monthly breast self-exam. Get regularly scheduled mammograms.
Advice
The drug Tamoxifen reduces a woman's chance of getting breast cancer by 50 percent. If you are at high risk for breast cancer, talk with your doctor about Tamoxifen and find out if it is right for you.
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer, baby breastfeeds, body will, body will produce
