Breasts are part of the anatomy of both
females and males. On the inside, a woman's breast is made
up of about 15-25 milk-producing sacs called milk glands,
which are connected to milk ducts that converge inside the
nipple.
The remainder of the internal breast is
composed of fatty tissue and fibrous connective tissues
that bind the breast together and give it shape.
On the outside of the breast there are nipples.
Nipples, like all other anatomical structures, vary in appearance
from woman to woman. They may stick out prominently, they
may have a flattened appearance, they may be set a bit deeper
in the breast, or they can be inverted.
Each nipple is supplied with many nerve
endings, which make it particularly sensitive to touch.
There are thin muscle fibers in nipples that enable them
to become erect. The darker pigmented area around each nipple
is called the areola (plural: areolae).
The size and color of the areolae vary from
woman to woman. This area can be seen as an extension of
the skin of the nipple onto the breast. It contains many
nerve fibers and muscle fibers that help the nipple to stiffen
and become erect.
Bumps in the Aerola Normal
It is quite normal to have small bumps in the areola. These
bumps are oil-producing glands that secrete a lubricant
to make breast feeding easier. During pregnancy, the areolae
darken and remain at least somewhat darker after pregnancy.
Women's breasts have three levels of significance:
they can feed a baby; they can give erotic pleasure; and
they play a large part in shaping a woman's self-image.
In response to sexual stimulation, a woman's
breasts may undergo changes. Her nipples typically become
erect during sexual excitement. As excitement proceeds,
the areolae begin to swell, continuing to the point where
the earlier nipple erection may look less pronounced. The
veins in the breast often become more visible as a result
of the increased blood flowing into them, and, in women
who have not breast-fed, there may also be a small increase
in breast size.
Breasts are a part of sexual anatomy that
is unrelated to reproduction, but, in American society,
have a great deal of erotic allure and sexual symbolism.
It is not at all unusual to see a large-breasted woman used
in advertisements to sell everything from beer to cars to
cologne (notably, these are primarily male markets).
As a result of the almost universal association
of a woman's breasts with femininity, sexuality, and attractiveness,
women and men have developed burdensome misconceptions about
the meaning of breast size. We are bombarded on an almost
daily basis with the not so subtle suggestion that a woman
with large breasts has a definite sexual advantage; thus,
conversely, a woman with small breasts must be less sexually
interested and skilled.
Breast Size Unrelated to Sexual Desire
The fact is that there is absolutely no evidence to suggest
that breast size is related to a woman's level of sexual
desire, or to her sexual response. Actually, many women
experience very little sexual pleasure from having their
breasts fondled or caressed, and this is true for women
with large and small breasts. Often it is the woman's male
partner who derives more pleasure out of fondling her breasts,
and she may participate mainly because she knows her lover
enjoys it. Furthermore, the women who do become sexually
aroused when their breasts are touched do so regardless
of their breast size.
Because of the enormous importance that
American culture attaches to breasts, their size and shape,
many women worry that their breasts are too small, too large,
or just the wrong shape. Not only may this negatively affect
their self-image and self-acceptance, it leads some women
to try ineffective and even dangerous methods of breast
augmentation or reduction.
Men's
breasts can give erotic pleasure (in some males), but they
have little influence on self-image, and they do not produce
milk. Men's breasts do not increase in size under stimulation
but some men will