What is mammary glands :

Mammary glands
Functionally, the mammary glands produce milk; structurally, they are modified sweat glands.
Mammary glands, which are located in the breast overlying the pectoralis major muscles, are
present in both sexes, but usually are functional only in the female.
Which hormone involve in mammary gland:
The levels of the reproductive hormones, estrogen, progesterone, placental lactogen, prolactin,
and oxytocin, change during reproductive development or function and act directly on the
mammary gland to bring about developmental changes or coordinate milk delivery to the
offspring.
Structure:
The basic components of a mature mammary gland are the alveoli (hollow cavities, a few
millimeters large) lined with milk-secreting cuboidal cells and surrounded by myoepithelial cells.
These alveoli join to form groups known as lobules. Each lobule has a lactiferous duct that
drains into openings in the nipple.
The exterior of all humans’ breasts are basically the same; however, the size, shape, and
function of breasts vary significantly between the sexes. The key parts of the female breast
include:
Cross-section of the human mammary gland.
Chest wall
Pectoralis muscles
Lobules
Nipple
Areola
Milk duct
Fatty tissue
Skin

Breast: The larger, more pronounced part of the breast is typically visible through clothing.
Some cultures associate breast size with sexuality, and others view a woman’s breast size as a
sign of maturity and fertility.
Areola: This circular area around the nipple typically has darker or deeper pink colored skin. The
color can change over time due to hormonal changes associated with menstruation,
menopause, and pregnancy.
Nipple: The protruding tip of the breast, the nipple is where breast milk ultimately flows from and
exits the body. It is also the site of many nerve endings. Typically, each breast has one, but in
rare cases more than one may be present.
At the onset of puberty, female reproductive hormones — particularly estrogen —guide breast
growth. It’s these hormones that manifest women’s larger breast size compared to that of men.

The exterior of all humans’ breasts are basically the same; however, the size, shape, and
function of breasts vary significantly between the sexes. The key parts of the female breast
include:

Breast: The larger, more pronounced part of the breast is typically visible through clothing.
Some cultures associate breast size with sexuality, and others view a woman’s breast size as a
sign of maturity and fertility.
Areola: This circular area around the nipple typically has darker or deeper pink colored skin. The
color can change over time due to hormonal changes associated with menstruation,
menopause, and pregnancy.
Nipple: The protruding tip of the breast, the nipple is where breast milk ultimately flows from and
exits the body. It is also the site of many nerve endings. Typically, each breast has one, but in
rare cases more than one may be present.
At the onset of puberty, female reproductive hormones — particularly estrogen —guide breast
growth. It’s these hormones that manifest women’s larger breast size compared to that of men.

During pregnancy, a woman’s breasts will enlarge due to an increase in hormones as well as
the body’s preparation for milk production. Normal changes in the breast during pregnancy can
include firming, enlarged nipples, darker nipples, and stretch marks on the skin due to
enlargement.

A woman’s breast size may also increase due to using hormone-based contraception, such as
birth control pills, patches, or intra-vaginal devices.

Another difference between the breasts of men and women are the amount of nerve endings in
the nipples and surrounding tissues. The increased nerve endings signal milk production in
mothers and can also provide a greater chance for sexual arousal when the nipples are
stimulated.

Women are more prone to problems with their breasts. These problems can include:

Breast cancer
Benign breast lumps
Mastitis, or breast infection
Virginal breast hypertrophy, or premature development of large breasts
Women over the age of 40 are encouraged to do self-breast exams monthly and get a
mammogram at least once a year. Early detection for breast cancer and other breast problems
makes them easier to treat.

mammals, a mammary duct is present in order to produce milk. The mammary duct is an organ
known as an exocrine gland, which is a type of gland that secretes a substance. The mammary
duct is an enlarged sweat gland. The mammary gland, or mammary duct, is composed of
alveoli. Alveoli are a few millimeters in size and form cavities in the breast. These cavities fill
with milk-creating cells called cuboidal cells, which are surrounded by the myoepithelial cells.
When the alveoli combine they are called lobules. In the anatomy of the nipple, the lactiferous
duct drains from each of the lobules. Humans have two complex mammary glands (one in each
breast), which is made up of about 10-20 simple mammary glands. “Simple mammary gland”
refers to the milk-secreting tissue that leads to the lactiferous duct in each breast. A complex
mammary gland is comprised of simple mammary glands that serve one nipple. The mammary
gland is stimulated by oxytocin, a hormone that is released when an infant suckles on the
breast. This sends a message to the body that the milk that had been stored within the
mammary glands is ready to be released and secreted through the nipple. The mammary duct
will grow at various times over the lifecycle of a human, including the embryonic stages and
puberty stages.
The mammary gland is a gland located in the breasts of females that is responsible for lactation,
or the production of milk. Both males and females have glandular tissue within the breasts;
however, in females the glandular tissue begins to develop after puberty in response to estrogen
release. Mammary glands only produce milk after childbirth. During pregnancy, the hormones
progesterone and prolactin are released. The progesterone interferes with prolactin, preventing
the mammary glands from lactating. During this time, small amounts of a pre-milk substance
called colostrum are produced. This liquid is rich in antibodies and nutrients to sustain an infant
during the first few days of life. After childbirth, progesterone levels decrease and the levels of
prolactin remain raised. This signals the mammary glands to begin lactating. Each time a baby
is breastfed the milk is emptied from the breast. Immediately afterward, the mammary glands
are signaled to continue producing milk. As a woman approaches menopause, the time when
menstruation stops, the tissues of the ductile system become fibrous and degenerate. This
causes involution, or shrinkage, of the mammary gland, and thereafter the gland loses the ability
to produce milk.

Combined with the cardiovascular system, the circulatory system helps to fight off disease,
helps the body maintain a normal body temperature, and provides the right chemical balance to
provide the body’s homeostasis, or state of balance among all its systems.

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