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About Your Breasts
Breast Basics
The breast is a
gland
that produces milk in late pregnancy and after childbirth.
What are breasts made of?
- Each breast is made of
lobes.
- Lobes are groups of milk glands called
lobules.
- Lobules are arranged around thin tubes called
ducts.
- Ducts carry the milk to the nipple.
- These lobules and ducts make up the
glandular tissue.
What is the lymphatic system?
The breasts also contain
lymph vessels, which carry a clear fluid called
lymph.
- The lymph vessels lead to small, round organs called
lymph nodes.
Groups of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the underarm, above the collarbone, in the chest behind the breastbone, and in many other parts of the body.
- The lymph nodes trap bacteria, cancer cells, or other harmful substances that may be in the
lymphatic system. Their job is to make sure harmful substances are safely removed from the body.
| See your health care provider about a breast change when you have:
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- A lump in or near your breast or under your arm
- Thick or firm tissue in or near your breast or under your arm
- Nipple discharge or tenderness
- A nipple pulled back (inverted) into the breast
- Itching or skin changes such as redness, scales, dimples, or puckers
- A change in breast size or shape
If you notice a lump in one breast, check the other breast. If both breasts feel the same, it may be normal.
You should still see your health care provider for a
clinical breast exam
to see if more tests are needed.
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Glossary Terms
clinical breast exam
An exam of the breast performed by a health care provider to check for lumps or other changes.
duct (dukt)
In medicine, a tube or vessel of the body through which fluids pass.
gland
An organ that makes one or more substances, such as hormones, digestive juices, sweat, tears, saliva, or milk. Endocrine glands release the substances directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands release the substances into a duct or opening to the inside or outside of the body.
lobe
A portion of an organ, such as the liver, lung, breast, thyroid, or brain.
lobule (LOB-yule)
A small lobe or a subdivision of a lobe.
lymph (limf)
The clear fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infections and other diseases. Also called lymphatic fluid.
lymph node (limf node)
A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called lymph gland.
lymph vessel (limf ...)
A thin tube that carries lymph (lymphatic fluid) and white blood cells through the lymphatic system. Also called lymphatic vessel.
lymphatic system (lim-FA-tik SIS-tem)
The tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infections and other diseases. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels (a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells). Lymphatic vessels branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body.
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