
Breast Anatomy
Breasts are essentially modified sweat glands that produce milk. Simply put, breasts are made up of:
- fat (or more technically adipose tissue),
- milk producing lobes (including the milk storage and secretion systems)
- and ligaments to hold them up.
- On the outside there are nipples and areoli.
Breast size is determined by the amount of adipose tissue or fat in the breasts and has no bearing on the milk producing capacities of the breast.
Breast tissue extends to the armpit. The lymph nodes in the armpit drain the breast tissue. Everyday movement of the body causes the breasts to move around which aids the movement of fluids out of the breast and into the lymph nodes.
Breasts are glandular organs that are very sensitive to any hormonal fluctuations in the body which explains the changes they go through during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, childbirth and lactation. In turn being glands they can secrete hormones themselves which influence other parts of the body. The breasts are intimately connected with the female genitals and repoductive system and vice versa.
Breasts change through the menstrual cycle. Most if not all women can notice the changes that their breatst can go through each cycle. The way your breats look, their size, the way they respond to touch, soreness or tenderness all fluctuate.