In this era in which we are being aware of so many facts of our body there is also a need of knowing our breast anatomy and its working. Due to certain reasons there have been increases in cases of breast related diseases.

Below is explained the basic anatomical structure and physiological action that leads to the development of the breast.

In the embryo the female baby stats developing breast tissue at about 2 months of fertilization of the egg. At that stage they are not noticeable. At about the end of 4 th month there is the development of milk ducts that becomes functional only after the birth of the baby of that individual. There are other tissues also formed that would lead to the formation of nipple. Due to the permeability of the placenta some hormones from the mother influences the breast tissue and they becomes organized. In the final trimester these organized cells forming the milk duct stats secreting a nutritional substance known as colostrums which is a liquid that gets deposited below the breast. Certain swellings are also seen on the tissue and the breast.

These breasts are almost unnoticeable in females till they achieve puberty. At the age of puberty there is secretion of one of the most powerful hormone known as oestrogen and later there is secretion of progesterone that has a great influence on the body of a female. Due to these hormones there is seen a remarkable change in the females morphology and there is development of breast tissue as these both hormones influence ovary as well as the mammary tissue.

Breast if seen histological is formed of various lobes of glandular tissue that are mainly required for producing milk. In a breast there are almost 15 to 20 lobes that are arranged in the cycle wheel style. The glandular tissue is arranged on the upper quadrant of the breast. This is the reason why some females feel some kind of tenderness prior to the beginning of the menses.

Breast as a whole is mostly composed of fatty tissue. There are present about 15 to 20 lobes that are further divided into alveoli. The females who are not pregnant the alveoli are small and non functional. As the women becomes pregnant the alveoli present in her breast enlarges and during the birth of the baby they produces milk. There is a ligament that keeps the breast in its shape and that is known as cooper’s ligament. With the age and effects of gravity the ligaments becomes loose and this is the reason why with the age breast sags down.

The excess of drainage of the breast fluids are drained off through the lymphatic system. These are helpful in draining off the various infections that gets creep into the breast.

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