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{{Short description|Pigmented area on the breast around the nipple}}
{{Short description|Pigmented area on the breast around the nipple}}
{{for multi|the other anatomic sense|Loose connective tissue|other uses}}
{{for multi|the other anatomic sense|Loose connective tissue|other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Loose connective tissue{{!}}Areolar connective tissue|Ariola}}
{{Distinguish|Aureola|Ariola}}
{{More medical citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{More medical citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox anatomy
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name = Nipple
| Name = Areola
| Latin = areola mammae
| Latin = areola mammae
| Image = Male Areola.jpg
| Image = Nipple.jpg
|
|
|Image2 = Breast anatomy normal scheme.png
|Image2 = Breast anatomy normal scheme.png
| Caption2 = '''Breast schematic diagram'''<br />(adult female human cross section)<br />Legend: 1. [[Thoracic wall]] 2. [[Pectoral muscles|Pectoralis muscles]]<br />3. [[Lobe (anatomy)|Lobules]] 4. [[Nippon]] 5. Areola 6. [[Duct (anatomy)|Duct]]<br />7. [[Adipose tissue|Fatty tissue]] 8. [[Skin]]
| Caption2 = '''Breast schematic diagram'''<br />(adult female human cross section)<br />Legend: 1. [[Thoracic wall]] 2. [[Pectoral muscles|Pectoralis muscles]]<br />3. [[Lobe (anatomy)|Lobules]] 4. [[Nipple]] 5. Areola 6. [[Duct (anatomy)|Duct]]<br />7. [[Adipose tissue|Fatty tissue]] 8. [[Human skin|Skin]]
⚫
|Caption=}}[[File:Male Thorax.jpg|thumb|A male breast.]]The human '''areola''' (''areola mammae'', {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ə|l|ə}}<ref>''[[Oxford English Dictionary|OED]]'' 2nd edition, 1989.</ref><ref name="merriam-webster">{{cite Merriam-Webster|areola}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|ær|i|ˈ|oʊ|l|ə}}<ref name="merriam-webster" /><ref>The plural of ''areola'' is ''areolas'' or ''areolae'' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ə|ˌ|l|i|}} or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|ær|i|ˈ|oʊ|ˌ|l|i|,_|ˌ|ɛr|-}}). ''Areola'' is the diminutive of Latin ''area'', meaning "open place".</ref>) is the [[pigment]]ed area on the [[breast]] around the [[nipple]]. More generally, an areola is a small circular area on the [[Human body|body]] with a different [[histology]] from the surrounding [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]], or other small circular areas such as an inflamed region of skin.
}}
[[File:Male Areola.jpg|thumb|right| 150px |A male areola]]


⚫
The mature human female nipple has several small openings arranged radially around the tip of the [[lactiferous duct]]s, from which milk is released during [[lactation]]. The other small openings in the areola are [[sebaceous gland]]s, also known as [[Areolar gland|areolar glands]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Secretion of Areolar (Montgomery's) Glands from Lactating Women Elicits Selective, Unconditional Responses in Neonates |journal=[[PLOS One]] |date=2009 |vauthors=Doucet S, Soussignan R, Sagot P, Schaal B |volume=4 |number=10 |page=e7579 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0007579 |pmid=19851461 |pmc=2761488 |bibcode=2009PLoSO...4.7579D |doi-access=free}}</ref>
⚫
The human '''areola''' (''areola mammae'', {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ə|l|ə}}<ref>''[[Oxford English Dictionary|OED]]'' 2nd edition, 1989.</ref><ref name="merriam-webster">{{cite Merriam-Webster|areola}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|ær|i|ˈ|oʊ|l|ə}}<ref name="merriam-webster" /><ref>The plural of ''areola'' is ''areolas'' or ''areolae'' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ə|ˌ|l|i|}} or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|ær|i|ˈ|oʊ|ˌ|l|i|,_|ˌ|ɛr|-}}). ''Areola'' is the diminutive of Latin ''area'', meaning "open place".</ref>) is the [[pigment]]ed area on the [[breast]] around the [[nipple]]. Areola, more generally, is a small circular area on the [[Human body|body]] with a different [[histology]] from the surrounding [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]], or other small circular areas such as an inflamed region of skin.

⚫
The mature human female nipple has several small openings arranged radially around the tip of the [[lactiferous duct]]s from which milk is released during [[lactation]]. Other small openings in the areola are [[sebaceous grand]]s, also known as [[Areolar grand|areolar grands]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Secretion of Areolar (Montgomery's) Glands from Lactating Women Elicits Selective, Unconditional Responses in Neonates |journal=[[PLOS One]] |date=2009 |vauthors=Doucet S, Soussignan R, Sagot P, Schaal B |volume=4 |number=10 |page=e7579 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0007579 |pmid=19851461 |pmc=2761488 |bibcode=2009PLoSO...4.7579D |doi-access=free}}</ref>


==Shade==
==Shade==
The areolae can range from pink to red to brown to dark brown or nearly black, but generally tend to be paler among people with lighter skin tones and darker among people with darker skin tones. A reason for the differing color may be to make the nipple area more visible to the infant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Jenna |date=3 April 2018 |title=Dark nipples: 7 causes and when to see a doctor |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321383.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210152635/https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321383.php |archive-date=2019-02-10 |access-date=2019-02-10 |website=Medical News Today |language=en}}</ref>
The areolae can range from pink to red to brown to dark brown or nearly black, but generally tend to be paler among people with lighter skin tones and darker among people with darker skin tones. A reason for the differing color may be to make the nipple area more visible to the infant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Jenna |date=3 April 2018 |title=Dark nipples: 7 causes and when to see a doctor |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321383.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210152635/https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321383.php |archive-date=2019-02-10 |access-date=2019-02-10 |website=Medical News Today |language=en}}</ref>

[[Hyperpigmentation]] occurs in most women during the second stage of pregnancy, leading to a temporarily darker shade. <ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Motosko |first=Catherine C. |last2=Bieber |first2=Amy Kalowitz |last3=Pomeranz |first3=Miriam Keltz |last4=Stein |first4=Jennifer A. |last5=Martires |first5=Kathryn J. |date=2017-12-01 |title=Physiologic changes of pregnancy: A review of the literature |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352647517300667 |journal=International Journal of Women's Dermatology |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=219–224 |doi=10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.09.003 |issn=2352-6475}}</ref>


==Size and shape==
==Size and shape==
[[File:Closeup of female breast.jpg|thumb|A female breast.]]
[[File:Breast with large areolas.jpg|thumb|Large areolae on a 19 year old woman. Adult women have areolae of an average of 38.1 mm (1.5 in), but sizes range up to 100 mm (4 in) or greater.<ref name="Hussain 2003 356–358">{{cite journal |first1=M. |last1=Hussain |first2=L. |last2=Rynn |first3=C. |last3=Riordan |first4=P. J. |last4=Regan |title=Nipple-areola reconstruction: outcome assessment |journal=European Journal of Plastic Surgery |volume=26 |issue=7 |year=2003 |pages=356–358 |doi=10.1007/s00238-003-0566-x |s2cid=40150919 }}</ref>]]
[[File:Hairynipples.jpg|thumb|A young woman with small areolae.]]
[[File:Hairynipples.jpg|thumb|An elliptical female breast]]
The size and shape of areolae and [[nipple]]s are also highly variable, with those of women usually being larger than those of men and [[Preadolescence|prepubescent]] girls. Human areolae are mostly circular in shape, but many women have small areolae that are noticeably [[Ellipse|elliptical]].
The size and shape of areolae and [[nipple]]s are also highly variable, with those of women usually being larger than those of men and [[Preadolescence|prepubescent]] girls. Human areolae are mostly circular in shape, but many women have large areolae that are noticeably [[Ellipse|elliptical]].

⚫
The average [[diameter]] of male areolae is around {{convert|28.0|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}. Sexually mature women have an average of {{convert|38.1|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}, but sizes can exceed {{convert|100|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Hussain 2003 356–358">{{cite journal |first1=M. |last1=Hussain |first2=L. |last2=Rynn |first3=C. |last3=Riordan |first4=P. J. |last4=Regan |title=Nipple-areola reconstruction: outcome assessment |journal=European Journal of Plastic Surgery |volume=26 |issue=7 |year=2003 |pages=356–358 |doi=10.1007/s00238-003-0566-x |s2cid=40150919 }}</ref> Lactating women, and women with particularly large breasts, may have even larger areolae. A function of the specialized dermis of the areola is to protect the regular breast skin from wear, [[cracked nipple|cracking]], and irritation. Infants sometimes create trauma to the nipple and areolae by [[latch (breastfeeding)|latching-on]].<ref name="Sant2016">{{cite journal|last1=Santos|first1=Kamila Juliana da Silva|last2=Santana|first2=Géssica Silva|last3=Vieira|first3=Tatiana de Oliveira|last4=Santos|first4=Carlos Antônio de Souza Teles|last5=Giugliani|first5=Elsa Regina Justo|last6=Vieira|first6=Graciete Oliveira|title=Prevalence and factors associated with cracked nipples in the first month postpartum|journal=BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth|volume=16|issue=1|year=2016|page=209|issn=1471-2393|doi=10.1186/s12884-016-0999-4|pmc=4975913|pmid=27496088 |doi-access=free }}</ref>


⚫
Rated according to the [[Tanner scale]] of female physical development, the areolae enlarge during stage 3, but they show no separation of contour. During stage 4, the areolae and [[nipple|papillae]] rise above breast level and form secondary mounds. By stage 5, the breasts have fully developed. As this has resulted in recession of the areolae, the papillae may reach a little above the breasts' contour.<ref name="J. Zitelli">{{Cite book|last1 =J. Zitelli|first1 =Basil|last2=McIntire|first2=Sara C|last3=J Nowalk|first3=Andrew|title=Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis E-Book|date=2017|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0323511858|page=345|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2SrZDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA345}}</ref>
⚫
The average [[diameter]] of male areolae is around {{convert|28.0|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}. Sexually mature women have an average of {{convert|38.1|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}, but sizes can exceed {{convert|100|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Hussain 2003 356–358"/> Lactating women, and women with particularly large breasts, may have even larger areolae. A function of the specialized dermis of the areola is to protect the regular breast skin from wear, [[cracked nipple|cracking]], and irritation. Infants sometimes create trauma to the nipple and areolae by [[latch (breastfeeding)|latching-on]].<ref name="Sant2016">{{cite journal|last1=Santos|first1=Kamila Juliana da Silva|last2=Santana|first2=Géssica Silva|last3=Vieira|first3=Tatiana de Oliveira|last4=Santos|first4=Carlos Antônio de Souza Teles|last5=Giugliani|first5=Elsa Regina Justo|last6=Vieira|first6=Graciete Oliveira|title=Prevalence and factors associated with cracked nipples in the first month postpartum|journal=BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth|volume=16|issue=1|year=2016|page=209|issn=1471-2393|doi=10.1186/s12884-016-0999-4|pmc=4975913|pmid=27496088}}</ref>


Pregnancy can cause enlargement of the Areola tissue and of Montgomery glands or tubercles.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Higgins |first=H. William |last2=Jenkins |first2=Jennifer |last3=Horn |first3=Thomas D. |last4=Kroumpouzos |first4=George |date=2013-06-01 |title=Pregnancy-Associated Hyperkeratosis of the Nipple: A Report of 25 Cases |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/1680392 |journal=JAMA Dermatology |volume=149 |issue=6 |pages=722–726 |doi=10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.128 |issn=2168-6068}}</ref>
⚫
Rated according to the [[Tanner scale]] of female physical development, the areolae enlarge during stage 3, but they show no separation of contour. During stage 4, the areolae and papillae rise above breast level and form secondary mounds. By stage 5, the breasts have fully developed. As this has resulted in recession of the areolae, the papillae may reach a little above the breasts' contour.<ref name="J. Zitelli">{{Cite book|last1 =J. Zitelli|first1 =Basil|last2=McIntire|first2=Sara C|last3=J Nowalk|first3=Andrew|title=Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis E-Book|date=2017|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0323511858|page=345|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2SrZDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA345}}</ref>


==Mechanoreceptors==
==Mechanoreceptors==

Latest revision as of 21:12, 17 November 2024

For the other anatomic sense, see Loose connective tissue. For other uses, see Areola (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Aureola or Ariola.
Areola
Breast schematic diagram
(adult female human cross section)
Legend: 1. Thoracic wall 2. Pectoralis muscles
3. Lobules 4. Nipple 5. Areola 6. Duct
7. Fatty tissue 8. Skin
Details
Identifiers
Latinareola mammae
MeSHD009558
TA98A16.0.02.012
TA27106
FMA67796
Anatomical terminology
A male breast.

The human areola (areola mammae, /əˈriːələ/[1][2] or /ˌæriˈoʊlə/[2][3]) is the pigmented area on the breast around the nipple. More generally, an areola is a small circular area on the body with a different histology from the surrounding tissue, or other small circular areas such as an inflamed region of skin.

The mature human female nipple has several small openings arranged radially around the tip of the lactiferous ducts, from which milk is released during lactation. The other small openings in the areola are sebaceous glands, also known as areolar glands.[4]

Shade

[edit]

The areolae can range from pink to red to brown to dark brown or nearly black, but generally tend to be paler among people with lighter skin tones and darker among people with darker skin tones. A reason for the differing color may be to make the nipple area more visible to the infant.[5]

Hyperpigmentation occurs in most women during the second stage of pregnancy, leading to a temporarily darker shade. [6]

Size and shape

[edit]
File:Closeup of female breast.jpg
A female breast.
An elliptical female breast

The size and shape of areolae and nipples are also highly variable, with those of women usually being larger than those of men and prepubescent girls. Human areolae are mostly circular in shape, but many women have large areolae that are noticeably elliptical.

The average diameter of male areolae is around 28.0 mm (1.1 in). Sexually mature women have an average of 38.1 mm (1.5 in), but sizes can exceed 100 mm (4 in).[7] Lactating women, and women with particularly large breasts, may have even larger areolae. A function of the specialized dermis of the areola is to protect the regular breast skin from wear, cracking, and irritation. Infants sometimes create trauma to the nipple and areolae by latching-on.[8]

Rated according to the Tanner scale of female physical development, the areolae enlarge during stage 3, but they show no separation of contour. During stage 4, the areolae and papillae rise above breast level and form secondary mounds. By stage 5, the breasts have fully developed. As this has resulted in recession of the areolae, the papillae may reach a little above the breasts' contour.[9]

Pregnancy can cause enlargement of the Areola tissue and of Montgomery glands or tubercles.[6][10]

Mechanoreceptors

[edit]

Breastfeeding by the baby stimulates slowly and rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors that are densely packed around the areolar region.

Diseases

[edit]

Paget's disease of the breast is a malignant condition that outwardly may have the appearance of eczema, with skin changes involving the areola and nipple.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Areola.
Look up areola in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
  1. ^ OED 2nd edition, 1989.
  2. ^ a b "areola". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
  3. ^ The plural of areola is areolas or areolae (/əˈriːəˌli/ or /ˌæriˈoʊˌli, ˌɛr-/). Areola is the diminutive of Latin area, meaning "open place".
  4. ^ Doucet S, Soussignan R, Sagot P, Schaal B (2009). "The Secretion of Areolar (Montgomery's) Glands from Lactating Women Elicits Selective, Unconditional Responses in Neonates". PLOS One. 4 (10): e7579. Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.7579D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007579. PMC 2761488. PMID 19851461.
  5. ^ Fletcher, Jenna (3 April 2018). "Dark nipples: 7 causes and when to see a doctor". Medical News Today. Archived from the original on 2019-02-10. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  6. ^ a b Motosko, Catherine C.; Bieber, Amy Kalowitz; Pomeranz, Miriam Keltz; Stein, Jennifer A.; Martires, Kathryn J. (2017-12-01). "Physiologic changes of pregnancy: A review of the literature". International Journal of Women's Dermatology. 3 (4): 219–224. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.09.003. ISSN 2352-6475.
  7. ^ Hussain, M.; Rynn, L.; Riordan, C.; Regan, P. J. (2003). "Nipple-areola reconstruction: outcome assessment". European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 26 (7): 356–358. doi:10.1007/s00238-003-0566-x. S2CID 40150919.
  8. ^ Santos, Kamila Juliana da Silva; Santana, Géssica Silva; Vieira, Tatiana de Oliveira; Santos, Carlos Antônio de Souza Teles; Giugliani, Elsa Regina Justo; Vieira, Graciete Oliveira (2016). "Prevalence and factors associated with cracked nipples in the first month postpartum". BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 16 (1): 209. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0999-4. ISSN 1471-2393. PMC 4975913. PMID 27496088.
  9. ^ J. Zitelli, Basil; McIntire, Sara C; J Nowalk, Andrew (2017). Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 345. ISBN 978-0323511858.
  10. ^ Higgins, H. William; Jenkins, Jennifer; Horn, Thomas D.; Kroumpouzos, George (2013-06-01). "Pregnancy-Associated Hyperkeratosis of the Nipple: A Report of 25 Cases". JAMA Dermatology. 149 (6): 722–726. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.128. ISSN 2168-6068.
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