What Are the Types of Glandular Tissue in the Breast?
Glandular tissue is a specialized tissue that secretes, or releases, substances for use by the body. The female breast contains glandular tissue for milk production and transport, as well as lubrication of the areola.
Lobules
Women produce milk inside specialized glands called lobules, according to the website Imaginis. Each breast contains between 12 and 20 lobules branching back from the nipple, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Associated Tissue
Glandular tissue also surrounds the lobules, as well as the ducts that transport milk from the lobules to the nipple, according to Imaginis.
Montgomery's Gland
The pigmented area around the nipple-known as the areola-contains the Montgomery's gland, which lubricates the areola, according to Imaginis. This gland sometimes appears as a series of small bumps on the areola's surface.
Significance
In addition to milk production itself, glandular tissue inside the breast is responsible for keeping the breast firm enough for production to occur, Imaginis notes.
Considerations
Breast cancer most commonly begins inside glandular tissue and often eventually breaks through glandular structures to spread to the rest of the breast and other areas of the body, according to AARP.
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