Home Page | Our Mission | Anatomy | All about Breast Tumours | Procedures | Events & Activities | What's New

ANATOMY

The female breast consists of a core made up of lobules (milk glands) and ducts. This core is surrounded by a layer of fat, and overlying this is skin. Milk is produced on the lobules or milk glands and collects in small ducts called terminal ducts. These terminal ducts join together to form larger ducts, which drain, via the nipple.

Each female breast has about 12 to 15 breast lobules. This understanding of breast anatomy is important because breast lumps including cancer develop mostly within the milk ducts and glands. (See diagram of anatomy of breast).

The female breast starts to grow from puberty and is fully developed when the woman reaches her twenties. During the reproductive period (approximately 18 to 40 year of age), the breast is under the influence of oestrogen and progesterone (female hormones) the levels varying with the menstrual cycle. This influence can cause the breast to be tender, hard and lumpy especially premenstrually. When a woman enters her forties, the glandular tissue of the breast undergoes involution and is largely replaced by fatty tissue.

Related Topic: Breast Screening Centre, Breast Screening Modalities