Breasts.

The female breasts usually start developing between the ages of 9 to 14 years due to hormonal changes associated with puberty. Breast are more prominent in females because the female sex hormones ( mainly estrogen), which are present in females are responsible breast development.

In men this does not happen because of higher level of the male sex hormone testosterone. This is the reason why women have more developed and prominent breasts.

What is Breast.

Breast Anatomy.

• The milk producing glands, called the mammary glands, are situated between the pectoralis muscle of the chest and the skin. These glands are arranged in round areas called lobes. About 15 to 20 lobes exist in each breast. Each lobe is again made up of small lobules. These lobules are made up of glandular tissue which produces the milk.
• ( The word mammary comes from the Greek and Latin word “mama” which is the first word uttered by the infant calling upon its mother to breastfeed it).
• The ducts  carry milk from the lobules to the main duct which empties into the nipple.
• Fatty tissue gives bulk to the breasts.
• Small muscles that open and close the nipple.
• Cooper’s ligament  acts as natural bra holding the breast up and not allowing them to sag.
• Nipple is the most anterior portion of the breast and is instrumental in abling the baby to suck the milk from its mother’s breasts.
• Areola is the dark colored circle which surrounds the nipple. It may be dark brown or pink.  The areola have sebaceous glands which lubricate the nipple during breastfeeding.
• The upper and outer quadrant of the breast extends diagonally outwards towards the axilla and is known as the tail of spence.
• The breasts rest on the pectoralis major muscle which is the muscle of the chest wall.

Image of Normal Breast Anatomy.

Shape and Size of the Breasts.

• There is a variation in the size, shape and position of the breasts from woman to woman. There is a variation in the size of the two breasts in the same woman. According to statistics, the left one is usually bigger than the right breast and this normal. A perfectly symmetrical set of breasts is only imaginary.
• The size of the breasts do not reflect upon the lactating potential of the woman.
• Certain normal events like menstruation, menopause and virginal breast hypertrophy can alter the size and shape of the breasts.
• During pregnancy, there is rapid growth of the breasts.
• Rarely one breast may be absent. This is called amastia and occurs due to the absence of the pectoral muscles. Rarely there may be bilateral amastia (both breasts absent) which is due to congenital reasons.

Function of the Breasts.

Besides adding feminism to the woman, the primary function of the breasts is to provide human milk which the mother breast feeds the child till it is able to start on outside foods. The breasts produce human milk which is  the most nutritious food that Providence has created for the newborn. WHO recommends breastfeeding till the child is six months old. It is then gradually started on liquid and then semisolid foods.

Breast Milk (Human).

Breasts of a woman start producing milk immediately after child birth. This takes place due to the action of the hormones prolactin and oytocin. The initial milk produced is called colostrum which contains high quantities of Immunoglobulin IgA which protects the gastrointestinal tract of the newborn bu coating it from within. The more the mother breastfeeds the baby, the more amount of breast milk is generated.

Very rarely men can also lactate. The mammary glands which are more developed in women due to hormonal reasons do not develop in men. Spontaneous lactation in men is very rare. But male lactation  can be  brought upon by taking of hormones for treatment of certain disorders like hormone- dependent breast cancer.  However this is exceedingly rare.

Composition of Breast Milk.

Fat
total (g/100 ml)	4.2
fatty acids – length 8C (% )	trace
polyunsaturated fatty acids (%)	14
Protein (g/100 ml)
total	1.1
casein 0.4	0.3
a-lactalbumin	0.3
lactoferrin	0.2
IgA	0.1
IgG	0.001
lysozyme	0.05
serum albumin	0.05
ß-lactoglobulin	-
Carbohydrate (g/100 ml)
lactose	7
oligosaccharides	0.5
Minerals (g/100 ml)
calcium	0.03
phosphorus	0.014
sodium	0.015
potassium	0.055
chlorine	0.043

 

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