The breast is the tissue that covers the chest (pectoral) muscles. Besides milk-producing glandular tissue, women’s breasts also contain fatty tissue. The size of the breast is determined by the amount of fat in it.
There are 15 to 20 lobes in each breast. Their arrangement resembles a daisy’s petals. In each lobe, milk is produced in smaller structures called lobules. Ducts connect the lobes, lobules, and bulbs. Some ducts lead to the nipple, located within a dark area of skin called the areola. Through ducts, milk travels throughout the body. Connecting ducts form larger ducts that exit the skin in the nipple. The areola is a dark area of skin surrounding the nipple.
Breasts are supported and shaped by connective tissue and ligaments. The breast is supplied with sensation by nerves. The breast also contains blood vessels, lymph nodes, and vessels.
Lymph vessels and blood vessels are also present in each breast. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped organs that are connected to lymph vessels. There are clusters of lymph nodes under the arm, above the collarbone, and in the chest. There are also many other places on the body where they are located.