About Breast

Anatomically breasts are quite literally two well structured and shaped mounds of fat that start to grow on the chest of girls when they hit puberty. The biological objective for women to have breasts is to eventually produce milk to wean her baby. Breast growth can be noticed in some girls as early as age 7 or 8, while in others it does not start until their late teens or even early 20’s.

Scientifically there is no way of knowing how big or small or how fast or slowly they will develop or when a woman’s breasts will start to grow.

It is however believed that the timing of these developments is associated with ones own biologic clock, which tells our body to start producing the required levels of female hormones called estrogen. From the moment the ovaries start to secrete these hormones, the connective tissues in the chest start to accumulate fat. This causes the first appearance of breasts on the chest wall of girls. The duct system in the breasts also begins to grow; these are what will eventually help to produce milk for the expecting mother.

Usually the first signs of puberty in most girls are associated with the development of the breast. Along with this, one can often expect the onset of pubic hair and hair of the arm pit.

The final size and shape of a girl’s breast varies greatly from being big breast, small breast or even perfect size breast. These pointers are all determined by the heredity of the girl.

Breasts from time immemorial have been the icon of a women’s beauty. They give the women the personality, make them often desirable and have always fascinated their male partner. 

Over the years people have referred to breasts by various terms; however it is the slang that is more popular. Some  common slangs are: Tits, Titties, Norks, Jugs, Knockers, Bust, Boobs, Bosoms, Boobies, Baps, Bust, Hooters and Melons.

To fully understand the developments of the breasts it is necessary to first look at the structure of the breasts.

Structure of the Developed Breast

In the structure of a fully developed breast there are approximately 20 groups of lobes. These are glands that take care of producing milk at the time of pregnancy. Each lobule is in fact, an individual milk producing zone having a small tube leading from it called a ductile. The ductile links up to a wider tube called the ducts, which eventually open on to the surface of the nipples. Overall, the nipples will have about 20 of these duct openings which will activate during pregnancy

In between the lobules there is a mixture of fatty tissue and tough supporting tissues. This maintains the shape of the breast as there are no muscles or bones making up the structure of the breast. The supporting tissues link up to the muscles of the chest wall underneath.

On the outer surface of the breasts one can find the nipple surrounded by a darker skin called the areola. The color of the areola can differ from one woman to another. It can range from dark shades of browns to a bright fleshy pink. The areola can also differ in size which can range from being extremely small and may not be readily visible or it could even spread to a wide area around the nipple.

Breast Development in Teenage Girls

In 1948 a British Scientist called J.M Tanner was invited by the Ministry of  health to establish a long term  study, on the growth of healthy children. He was accompanied by R.H Whitehouse.

During their research, the team followed and studied the pubertal growth of both young boys and girls. They measured and photographed the group every three to six months. It was during the end of their studies they were able to determine that the completion of breast growth took around four years in girls, and categorized these developments into five stages.

Stage 1: Preadolescent: There is usually a height spurt, with no pubic  hair yet appearing. The breasts have no glandular tissues however only the tips of the nipples are raised.

Stage 2:  The areola - which is the pigmented area around the nipples, enlarges becoming darker. The breast tissue called buds appear and the nipple raises to become a mound. Meanwhile, the body fat generally increases by about 18 to 19 % with a few darkened hairs appearing along the labia majora of the vulva.

Sage 3: Enlargement of Breast - By this stage it’s found that 20% of girls have their first menstrual period. The breasts are also slightly larger with glandular tissues present. It is found that most girls reach their maximum growth rate medically referred as peak height velocity by this stage.

Stage 4:Second Mound - By this stage 50% of girls get their menstrual periods. For most girls it is the end of their peak height velocity. But in some cases it is found that girls can continue to grow 3 to 4 inches more.

 During this period there is a further development of the breast tissues. The areola and the nipples continue to become further raised, forming the second mound above the rest of the breast.

Stage 5: The budding breasts reach its final stage of development. Here they are mature adult breasts by becoming rounder while the nipples rise slightly. By this time it is quite common to find the pigmented hair growth on the inner thighs.

About Common Breast Shapes

The shape and size of a woman’s breast keeps changing during her life and depends completely on genetic factors, climate conditions, diet, lifestyle and the kind of support they are give during and after development. It has been found that the shape and size of the right and left breasts for no women are identical. In fact it is quite common that one breast will be larger then the other.

There are a variety of breast shapes and types. We have tried to broadly classify them into 8 categories. Numbers 6, 7, and 8 are sub classified under common abnormalities found in women.

1.      The perfect breast shape

2.      Sagging breasts

3.      Swooping Breasts:

4.      Small Breasts

5       Large Breasts

Common Abnormalities:-

6.      Constricted or Tubular Breast

7.      Pigeon or Pectus Carinatum

8.      Pectus Excavatum

1. The Perfect Breast Shape: The Nipple is pointed outwards and is parallel to the ground. The breast should be well toned and supple with no evidence of sagging.

This breast shape is quite rare. Often when women go for cosmetic breast surgery, they are not only try to reduce or increase the size and shape of their breasts but they also wish for that perfect shape.

The perception of perfect breast shape may also vary from culture to culture. What one society may find as the perfect breast shape, another society may brand it as not the desired shape.

2. Sagging Breasts: The nipples point downwards while the breasts also droop towards the ground.

Gravity always seems to work against anything that tries to stand erect and breasts are no exception. Sagging of breast can be due to a variety of reasons. Usually this can be quite commonly found in women as they age towards their menopause; the Tissues holding the breast up, start to lose their elasticity and strength. 

In Younger women if sagging occurs it is generally due to insufficient support provided to the breast during its development at puberty. The tough tissues which provide support to the breasts may end up breaking or getting weak and causing the breast to sag down. Wearing the right bra during the developmental years could have prevented breast sagging for these women. The only permanent corrective measure would involve corrective plastic surgery.

In some cases, it has also been found that women with large breasts may end up having sagging or drooping of the breasts.  The level of sagging of the breasts often depends on the amount of fat tissues in them. 

3. Swooping Breasts: The breasts do not sag but slightly bend inwards above the areola. This results in the breast to bend so the nipples point upwards and are slightly vertical to the ground

4. Small Breasts: Are found to have very little volume of fatty tissues in them. They usually have smaller nipples and areolas with little cleavage in-between the two breasts. Hence small breasts are not always welcomed by women.

5. Large Breasts:  Women with large breasts have a high volume of fatty tissues in their breasts. The nipples and areolas can often be found to be bigger with women with large breasts.  To prevent sagging it is vital that women with large breast wear the right kind of bra support.

7. Pigeon or Pectus Carinatum: These are severely deformed breasts that lie almost flat against the chest. The breastbone protrudes forward. And the breasts do not  truly look like breasts.

The cause of pectus carinatum is thought to be due to congenital defects. Corrective breast surgery is advised for women in this category. The surgeon usually reshapes the breasts using breast implants.

About Common Breast Shapes

The shape and size of a woman’s breast keeps changing during her life and depends completely on genetic factors, climate conditions, diet, lifestyle and the kind of support they are give during and after development. It has been found that the shape and size of the right and left breasts for no women are identical. In fact it is quite common that one breast will be larger then the other.

There are a variety of breast shapes and types. We have tried to broadly classify them into 8 categories. Numbers 6, 7, and 8 are sub classified under common abnormalities found in women.

1.      The perfect breast shape

2.      Sagging breasts

3.      Swooping Breasts:

4.      Small Breasts

5       Large Breasts

Common Abnormalities:-

6.      Constricted or Tubular Breast

7.      Pigeon or Pectus Carinatum

8.      Pectus Excavatum

1. The Perfect Breast Shape: The Nipple is pointed outwards and is parallel to the ground. The breast should be well toned and supple with no evidence of sagging.

This breast shape is quite rare. Often when women go for cosmetic breast surgery, they are not only try to reduce or increase the size and shape of their breasts but they also wish for that perfect shape.

The perception of perfect breast shape may also vary from culture to culture. What one society may find as the perfect breast shape, another society may brand it as not the desired shape.

2. Sagging Breasts: The nipples point downwards while the breasts also droop towards the ground.

Gravity always seems to work against anything that tries to stand erect and breasts are no exception. Sagging of breast can be due to a variety of reasons. Usually this can be quite commonly found in women as they age towards their menopause; the Tissues holding the breast up, start to lose their elasticity and strength. 

In Younger women if sagging occurs it is generally due to insufficient support provided to the breast during its development at puberty. The tough tissues which provide support to the breasts may end up breaking or getting weak and causing the breast to sag down. Wearing the right bra during the developmental years could have prevented breast sagging for these women. The only permanent corrective measure would involve corrective plastic surgery.

In some cases, it has also been found that women with large breasts may end up having sagging or drooping of the breasts.  The level of sagging of the breasts often depends on the amount of fat tissues in them. 

3. Swooping Breasts: The breasts do not sag but slightly bend inwards above the areola. This results in the breast to bend so the nipples point upwards and are slightly vertical to the ground

4. Small Breasts: Are found to have very little volume of fatty tissues in them. They usually have smaller nipples and areolas with little cleavage in-between the two breasts. Hence small breasts are not always welcomed by women.

5. Large Breasts:  Women with large breasts have a high volume of fatty tissues in their breasts. The nipples and areolas can often be found to be bigger with women with large breasts.  To prevent sagging it is vital that women with large breast wear the right kind of bra support.

Common Breast Abnormalities:-

6. Constricted or Tubular Breast:  Often called as tuberous breasts, tubular breasts or constricted breasts, they are visibly narrow cylindrical or tubular in shape like egg plants. This breast shape is found to have extremely small nipples and areolas. In some cases the nipple may be overtly prominent due to the breast tissues being herniated or squeezed into the tip. The constricted breast shape means that the two breasts are far apart due to the small base.

Constricted breast shapes are classified more along the lines of being defective breast anomaly. They can be corrected through cosmetic breast surgery. However it is vital that the procedure is carried out by a skilled breast surgeon.
7. Pigeon or Pectus Carinatum: These are severely deformed breasts that lie almost flat against the chest. The breastbone protrudes forward. And the breasts do not  truly look like breasts.

The cause of pectus carinatum is thought to be due to congenital defects. Corrective breast surgery is advised for women in this category. The surgeon usually reshapes the breasts using breast implants.

8. Pectus Excavatum: This is the opposite of the pectus carinatum. Here the chest sinks in and is also referred sometimes as the sunken chest.

Breast and Personality Types