The slight projection located at the apex of each breast is referred to as the nipple. Within women’s nipples, minuscule openings exist through which milk can flow. Throughout pregnancy, both the nipple and the darkened region surrounding it, known as the areola, tend to enlarge. The nipple possesses involuntary muscle that facilitates its erection.
Anomalies in the structure of the nipple are infrequent. It’s possible for one or both nipples to be absent, or for extra nipples to appear along a line from the armpit to the groin. Inverted nipples are typically harmless developmental irregularities. They can often be corrected by gently drawing out the nipple between the fingers and thumb on a daily basis for several weeks. In older women, nipple inversion is often attributed to the effects of aging. However, considering the potential for breast cancer, it might be advisable to undergo mammography to eliminate any concerns.
Cracked nipples, frequently encountered during breastfeeding, have the potential to result in infective mastitis, which involves inflammation of the breast tissue. Practicing daily routines of cleansing, drying, and applying moisturizer to the nipple can aid in the prevention of cracking.
Nipple papilloma is a benign growth linked to the skin through a stalk. The onset of Paget’s disease of the nipple is marked by persistent nipple eczema and stems from the development of a slow-growing cancer within a milk duct. Surgical intervention is necessary for treatment.
Nipple discharge can arise from a variety of causes. During early pregnancy, a clear, straw-colored discharge might appear, while a milky discharge could emerge after the cessation of breastfeeding. Galactorrhea, which involves milk discharge when not pregnant or breastfeeding, could stem from hormonal imbalances or, more rarely, a galactocele (a cyst beneath the areola). Pus-containing discharge indicates a breast abscess. If the discharge is bloodstained, it could be attributed to a noncancerous breast condition like fibroadenosis (general lumpiness of the breast) or a cancerous tumor.
The pigmented, cone-shaped protrusion on the breast where the 14 to 16 milk ducts from the breast lobes come together.