MAMMARY GLANDS. 
produce so much excitement as to occasion 
erection of the nipple.” 
The nipple is carefully connected with the 
gland by means of a firm fascia encircling the 
lactiferous tubes derived from the general 
fibrous tissue of the breast and thorax. 
The areola.—This term has been applied to 
the coloured circle which surrounds the nipple. 
It is smooth until the period of puberty, when 
it becomes slightly tuberculated. Its diameter 
inachild is about half an inch; at puberty 
and in young women double that size, and 
during lactation is as much as two inches or 
more, not again changing except in very old 
age, when it almost disappears. 
The change of the colour of the areola from 
a reddish tint to a dark brown as the result of 
impregnation is well known to the practitioner. 
The cuticle is thin as in the nipple. Speaking 
of the cutis of the areola Sir A. Cooper 
observes, that “ when the areola is examined 
with attention after the separation of the cuticle 
A front view of the nipple and areola} shewing the 
foliated appearance of the papille and the numerous 
but smaller papille of the areola. 
This and the following figures are all taken from 
Sir A. Cooper’s work. 
247 
and rete mucosum, its surface is found to be 
covered with papille like those ofthe nipple, 
but of smaller size, although stiil extremely 
distinct. They are smallest at the circumference 
of the areola, but gradually increase in size as 
they approach the nipple. They are disposed 
in circles, their bases fixed in the cutis, and 
the apex of each is directed towards the nipple, 
so that they are opposed to the papille of the 
lips of the child. They are very vascular and 
sensitive bodies”. (See fig.71.) The whole 
structure of the areola points to it as a continu- 
ation of the nipple. 
The nipple and areola are lubricated by the 
secretion of especial mucous follicles which 
surround them, called by Sir A. Cooper the 
tubercles of the areola. “ These glands are 
extremely vascular, lobulated, and cellular. 
Each orifice opens into an arborescent vessel or 
vessels.” (See fig. 72). 
A tubercle filled with yellow injection and twenty-three 
times magnified. These are the tubercles which 
have been supposed by anatomists to produce milk, 
and to have communication with the lactiferous tubes, 
From which, however, they are separate and dis- 
tinct. They secrete a mucous fluid, which has 
more the appearance of gruel than milk, 
A section of the mammary gland through the nipple, shewing the ducts over a bristle unravelled, and pro- 
ceeding to the posterior part of the gland. Th 
e ligamenta suspensoria may be seen passing from the 
anterior surface of the gland to the skin, supporting the folds or processes of the former, 
considerable cavities between them, in which the fat is contained in its proper membrane. 
and leaving 
The fascia 
may be observed passing to each extremity of the gland and dividing into two portions; the anterior 
oceedi the surface of the gland to form the | 
a ae. or rctoes which a ole quantity of fat is contained; and both these layers 
assist in producing the fibrous tissue of the gland. 
gland, sending 
ia; the posterior behind the 
It also sends processes of fascia backwards to join 
the aponeurosis of the pectoral muscle, b, b, forming the line from one extremity of the gland to the other. 
The section, mente, clearly shews the. various cords by means of which the breast is slung and 
‘sustained, a, a, the fascia. 
