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. 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.
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 have noticeable nipple erection.