1. BREAST & BODY FAMILIARITY
Lesson 3:
BREAST & BODY FAMILIARITY
Manitoba Breast & Women’s Cancer Network, Adolescent Breast Health Resource Package, September 2007

2. the breast

3. main function
to produce and
secrete milk

4. Anatomy of the Breast

5. Appearance ∙ each breast is generally circular or tear drop in shape
∙ one breast is often larger than
the other
∙ a nipple is in the center of each
breast
∙ the nipple may stand out, be
flat or pulled in
∙ the colored area around the
nipple is called the areola
∙ the areola may be pink, brown
or black like our complexion
∙ little bumps called Montgomery’s
glands may be seen on the areola
∙ hair follicles are common around the nipple

6. ◦ breasts are positioned over the ribs and two muscles
◦ the breast extends from the collar bone to bra line and breast bone to the armpit
◦ breasts are positioned over the ribs and two muscles
◦ the muscles are called the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles

7. Composition each breast has 15-20 lobes each lobe has many small
lobules (like a
stem of
grapes)
breast
milk is
produced in
the lobules
slender
tubes called
ducts carry the
breast milk to
the nipple

8. the nipple has 6-8 openings where the milk is secreted fatty and
fibrous tissue
provide shape and
support to
the breast

9. Illustrations: C2007 GCT II Solutions and Enterprises Ltd.
THE BREAST
Vessels
Chest wall muscle
Lymph node
Supportive ligaments
Lymph channel
Fatty tissue
Milk lobes (glands)
Lactiferous sinus
Lactiferous duct
Nipple
Areola
Illustrations: C2007 GCT II Solutions and Enterprises Ltd.

10. BREAST DEVELOPMENT begins during the 6th week of fetal life develops
in a line
called
the milk ridge
fetal
development

11. The Milk Ridge the milk ridge runs from the armpit to the groin
the line
shrinks by the
9th week of fetal life
remaining only
in the
chest area in
animals
the ridge remains,
which is why
they have
multiple nipples
occasionally
a woman will have
an extra nipple
(on this line)
which is often
mistaken for a
birthmark

12. breast tissue is present at birth the tissue is sensitive to the
80-90%
of all infants
(boys & girls)
have
nipple discharge
on the 2nd or 3rd
day of life
breast
tissue
is present
at birth
the tissue
is sensitive to the
mothers hormones
circulating
through
the placenta
this
discharge
is called
witch’s milk
and goes away
within a
couple of
weeks

13. at puberty one breast may develop more quickly than the other a bud of
breast tissue
begins to grow
under
the nipple
one breast
may always be
larger
one breast
may develop
more quickly
than the other at
puberty
the ducts
begin to grow and
reach full growth
around the time
menstruation
begins
the
female hormones
estrogen
and
progesterone
affect
breast growth

14. there is a
large variation
in breast size

15. Breast Size
◦ the proportion of milk glands, ducts and fat in the breast changes with age
◦ during puberty the breast is mainly ducts
◦ breasts of 20 year old women are mainly lobular (milk glands) tissue
◦ size increases dramatically in pregnant and breastfeeding women
◦ breasts of women over 50 years are mainly fatty tissue
◦ because of the fatty makeup of breasts, size can change as a person’s body shape and size changes

16. get to know how
your breasts
look and feel

17. knowing what
is normal
for your breasts
may help you
detect changes
if they occur.

18. There is no need to follow any kind of routine or schedule.
You can become breast familiar
in any way that feels comfortable for you.

19. This might mean looking and feeling while…
◦ getting dressed
◦ looking in the mirror
◦ in the bath or shower
◦ standing up or lying down

20. shapes colors breasts and nipples come in all different… textures
sizes

21. hair around nipples sensitivity inverted or nipples discomfort
normal
adolescent
breasts
may have…
swelling,
tenderness,
increased
lumpyness
nipple
discharge a
difference
in size
between
breasts
stretch
marks

22. Potential Breast Changes to Check Out With Your Doctor
changes in
size,
shape or
colour
pain in the
breast or armpit
that is
unrelated to one’s
menstrual cycle
thickened or
hard skin
a new lump
spontaneous,
new or bloody
nipple discharge
puckering or
dimpling
of the skin a
change
in the
nipple

23. Provided by: CancerCare Manitoba Breast Screening Program
Breast Health – There is so Much You Can Do (Pamphlet)

24. be “P.I.N.K.” to reduce your risk
BREAST CANCER
P ractice what you know
eat healthy
be active
don’t smoke
one drink per day or less
I nvestigate the information
know fact from fiction
N know what’s normal
for your body and breasts
K nowledge is power

25. Students should contact
CancerCare Manitoba Breast Cancer Centre of Hope
( or Toll Free at )
in Winnipeg for further information if necessary.