Mammary gland

Mammary glands are organs that produce milk, which serves to nurse the baby. They are also called mammary glands.

There are mammary glands from glandular lobules resembling a grape cluster (15-20 pieces). They also produce breast milk. Then it enters the milk passages and leaves through the pinhole in the nipple. By the age of 10-12, the ovaries, the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland and other endocrine glands are activated in the girl's body . They excrete hormones, under the influence of which the development and growth of elements that produce milk is developing. They fully ripen to 18-20 years. The mammary glands undergo noticeable physiological and anatomical changes when they appear monthly and during pregnancy. The moment of delivery and the period of lactation - the achievement of their greatest development. Starting from 45-50 years, just in the climacteric period, the lobules of the mammary glands undergo a stage of reverse development.

Their condition depends on the presence or absence of diseases of the organs of two systems: endocrine and sexual. For example, in girls with ovarian failure, oncology of the breast can be observed.

Mastopathy is more common in women giving birth. It is characterized by a tightening in one or both mammary glands. To the touch, painful fine-grained formations can be of different density and magnitude. Sometimes they ache only before menstruation or during it. In general, mastopathy as such is not dangerous, but it can gradually develop into a malignant tumor. Therefore, any seal that appears in the chest should alert the woman. With him you need to contact a specialist.

Mastopathy often develops after abortions, which disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine glands, and especially the ovaries. Also, the cause of the pathology may be inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. Women who did not give birth and did not breastfeed are more susceptible to hormonal disorders, often provoking the appearance of neoplasms. Over time, such changes can develop into tumors. Predispose to this contusion of the chest and the remaining scars on it.

Also, the development of the tumor can trigger and inflammation of the breast (mastitis). It appears, as a rule, during the feeding of the baby, if there are cracks on the nipples. Severe pain seems to burst the mammary glands, they swell, thicken, redden and gloss the skin, the temperature rises, which is often accompanied by a strong chill. In this state, one should not engage in self-medication. After all, after it, the compaction does not disappear, as it may seem, but turns into an abscess. And then you can not do without surgical intervention, the delay with which threatens with the most dangerous complications. A timely call to a doctor will allow to recover only within a few days after the treatment prescribed by him.

Since the cause of mastitis is pyogenic microbes, the slightest damage to the skin of the mammary glands, and even more so the cracks on the nipple - is already an occasion to call a specialist.

Mammary glands can be protected from diseases, provided timely treatment of genital diseases and hygiene, especially for pregnant women and nursing mothers. They should remember that in no case should you stop breastfeeding abruptly. If this is a temporary necessity, you need to express the milk, so that the mammary glands retain their secretory function.

In addition to planned examinations, it is necessary to regularly perform self-examination of the breast. If any suspicious seals are detected in the mammary glands, you should immediately contact a mammologian doctor.