Sunday, September 18, 2011

Breast Anatomy

The breasts of an adult woman are milk-producing, tear-shaped glands. They are supported by and attached to the front of the chest wall on either side of the breastbone or sternum by ligaments. They rest on the major chest muscle, the pectoralis major.
The breast has no muscle tissue. A layer of fat surrounds the glands and extends throughout the breast.
The breast is responsive to a complex interplay of hormones that cause the tissue to develop, enlarge and produce milk. The three major hormones affecting the breast are estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, which cause glandular tissue in the breast and the uterus to change during the menstrual cycle.


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