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The breasts (mammary glands) are a pair of glandular organs that
produce milk in response to the hormonal changes of childbirth. They're
mainly made up of fatty tissue, which starts high on the front of the
chest and extends down and around into the armpit. They are supported
by ligaments and large muscles. Each breast has 15 to 20 lobes
with a number of lobules and ducts surrounded by fatty and supportive
tissue. Each lobule has about 30 major ducts that open onto the nipple.
The darker area of skin around the nipple is called the areola. At the
edge of the areola there are large glands that produce fluid to
lubricate the nipple. In each armpit there are about 20 to 30
lymph nodes (glands), which drain fluid from the breast. These form
part of the lymphatic system that helps the body to fight infection. It's
common and perfectly normal for one breast to be larger than the other.
The nipples usually point forward, although they may look different on
each breast. It's not unusual for one or both nipples to be turned
inwards (inverted). This can be present from birth or can happen when
the breasts are developing. The nipples themselves are hairless, but
some women have a few hairs around the areola. A small number of
women have an extra breast or pair of breasts. These are usually in the
lower armpit and are known as accessory breasts. Some women have an
extra nipple or nipples. These are usually below the breast or above
the belly button. Accessory breasts and extra nipples aren't usually a
problem and don't need to be removed.
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