Breasts are the most definitive organs of a woman, and they also
lend woman with grace, beauty and tremendous self-confidence.
Actually, breasts are collections of fatty tissues called connective
tissues or adipose tissues that are bonded by a layer of skin. The
adipose tissues are held in place by Cooper's ligaments. The
terminal end of the breast contains a nipple, surrounded by the
areola. The color of the areola differs from woman to woman. For white women, it
can range from a bright fleshy pink to a darker shade of brown.
Also, the size of areola differs. The areola can be so small as not
to be seen behind the nipple at all, or it may spread to a wide
area around the breast, which could be several inches across.
Moreover, the size and shape of the areola (and the entire
breast) keeps changing during the lifecycle of a woman.
Sexual Role
Breasts play an important part in human sexual behavior. They are one of most visible or obvious female secondary sex characteristics, and play an important role in sexual attraction of partners, and pleasure of the individual. On sexual arousal breast size increases, venous patterns across the breasts become more visible, and nipples harden. During sexual intercourse it is common practice to press or massage breasts with hands, breasts are sensitive to touch as they have many nerve endings. Oral stimulation of nipples and breasts is also common. Some women can achieve breast orgasms. In the ancient Indian work the Kama Sutra, marking breasts with nails and biting with teeth are explained as erotic.
Types Of Breasts
As faces of people are different, so also are breasts. No two women will have identical breasts. The size and shape of the breasts depends upon genetic factors, regionalism, diet, climate and several other factors. Though there are several variations of breasts, some types can be classified broadly as follows:-
(i) Perfect Breasts - The perfect breast shape is quite a
In both medicine and esthetics, the perfect breast shape is the
one in which the nipple points outwards, parallel to the ground.
There should be no sag and the breast should be supple and well-toned.
(ii) Swooping Breasts - This shape is the one in which the
breast slightly bends inwards above the areola. There is no
however. Due to the bending of the breast, the nipple points
upwards, inclined to the vertical.
(iii) Saggy or Ptotic breasts - Saggy breasts are commonly
found in women as their age advances. These breasts droop
downwards, causing the nipple to be pointed downwards too.
Saggy breasts may have more or little volume, depending on the
amount of fat tissues in them.
(iv) Small Breasts - Small breasts are breasts that have very
little volume of fatty tissue in them. Small breasts also have
small nipples and areolas. There is very little substance between
the nipples and the pectoral muscles.
(v) Tubular or Constricted Breasts - These are actually a
defective breast shape which may be cause due to hernia in
breast tissue. They are visible as tubular or narrow cylindrical in
shape, with very small nipples and areolas. Their base is also
small, and the two breasts may be far apart.
(vi) Augmented Breasts - These are a severe condition of tubular breasts. There are visible anomalies in the shape of the breasts.
(vii) Pectus carinatum or Pigeon Breasts - These are
severely deformed breasts which lie almost flat on the chest.
They do not look like breasts at all. These are caused due to a congenital defect.
Though these are the main breast shapes seen around, they are not in the least all. There are several variations even in the above types of breasts. Some abnormalities in breasts are also common. Given below are some common abnormalities that are observed in breasts:-
(i) Many women have asymmetrical breasts. The asymmetry may be only in the shape and size of the breast, or it may also be seen in the shape and size of the nipple and the areola.
(ii) Some women may have hair around their nipples.
(iii) Some women may have inverted nipples.
Despite these abnormalities, these breasts are able to their main function, which is lactation. Hence, the outward shape of the breast is only for purposes of beauty, and not for physiology. Sources include http://www.mysecrethealth.com/