About the breast

Parts of the breast

The breast, also called a mammary gland, is made up of lobules, ducts, fatty tissue, blood vessels, lymph vessels, muscles, and nerves.

• Lobules are tiny sacs in the breast that produce milk during breast-feeding. There are about one million lobules in each breast.
• Ducts are tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple.
• Fatty tissue surrounds the lobules and ducts to provide support.
• Blood vessels are tubes that circulate blood throughout the body. Blood vessels include arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.
• Lymph vessels carry lymph to lymph nodes in the underarm (axilla), above the collarbone, and in the chest. There are also lymph nodes throughout the body.

Parts of the breast