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{{Short description|Pigmented area on the breast around the nipple}}
:''This article is about the breast tissue. For the ] term, see the ]. For an artistic cloud motif, see ]. For the cactus feature, see ].''
{{for multi|the other anatomic sense|Loose connective tissue|other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Aureola|Ariola}}
{{More medical citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox anatomy {{Infobox anatomy
| Name = Areola | Name = Areola
| Latin = areola mammae | Latin = areola mammae
| GraySubject = 271 | Image = Nipple.jpg
|
| GrayPage = 1267
| Image = Female Areola.jpg
| Caption = Close-up of a human female breast showing the areola.
|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. ] 2. ]s<br />3. ] 4. ] 5. Areola 6. ]<br />7. ] 8. ] | Caption2 = '''Breast schematic diagram'''<br />(adult female human cross section)<br />Legend: 1. ] 2. ]<br />3. ] 4. ] 5. Areola 6. ]<br />7. ] 8. ]
|Caption=}}]The human '''areola''' (''areola mammae'', {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ə|l|ə}}<ref>'']'' 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 ]ed area on the ] around the ]. More generally, an areola is a small circular area on the ] with a different ] from the surrounding ], 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 ]s, from which milk is released during ]. The other small openings in the areola are ]s, also known as ].<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Secretion of Areolar (Montgomery's) Glands from Lactating Women Elicits Selective, Unconditional Responses in Neonates |journal=] |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>
In ], an '''areola''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|əl|ə}}<ref>'']'' 2nd edition, 1989.</ref><ref> in ''''.</ref>) is any small circular area on the ] coloured differently from the surrounding ]. The term is most commonly used to describe the ]ed area on the human ] around the ] (''areola mammae'') but it can also be used to describe other small circular areas such as the inflamed region surrounding a ].


==Shade==
The plural of "areola", is "areolæ"/"areolae", which is pronounced {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|əl|i:}} or {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|iː|əl|aɪ}}. "Areola" is the ] of ] ''area'', "open place".
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>


] 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|pmc=5715231 }}</ref>
==Human mammary areola==
Careful inspection of a mature human female ] will reveal several small openings arranged radially around the tip of the nipple (]s) from which milk is released during ]. Other small openings in the areola are ]s, known as ] (or glands of Montgomery),<ref>http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0007579</ref> which provide lubrication to protect the area around the nipple and assist with ] and pumping of the lactation.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} These can be quite obvious and raised above the surface of the areola, giving the appearance of "goose-flesh". This tissue, in addition to supporting the flow of milk, also bears the brunt of physical stress that the suckling involves.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}


===Color=== ==Size and shape==
]
Another reason for its color comes from an abundance of two polymers: ] (the brown pigment) and ] (the red pigment).{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} The genetically-directed amount of these pigments determines the color of the areola. They can range from pale yellow or pink 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.
⚫ The size and shape of areolae and ]s are also highly variable, with those of women usually being larger than those of men and ] girls. Human areolae are mostly circular in shape, but many women have large areolae that are noticeably ].


The average ] 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, ], and irritation. Infants sometimes create trauma to the nipple and areolae by ].<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>
Additionally, it has been claimed that a reason for the differing color is to make the nipple area more visible to the infant.<ref name="Y-health">http://health.yahoo.net/experts/breastcancer/what-color-your-areola-tells-about-you</ref>


Rated according to the ] of female physical development, the areolae enlarge during stage 3, but they show no separation of contour. During stage 4, the areolae and ] 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>
An individual's areolae may also change color over time in response to ] changes caused by ], certain ], and ].{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Most notably, the areolae may darken substantially during ]&nbsp;— some regression to the original color may occur after the baby is born, though this varies between individuals.


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>
===Size and shape===
⚫ The size and shape of areolae are also highly variable, with those of sexually mature women usually being larger than those of men and ] girls. Human areolae are mostly circular in shape, but many women and some men have areolae that are noticeably ].


==Mechanoreceptors==
The average ] of male areolae is around 25&nbsp;mm (1&nbsp;in). Sexually mature women have an average of 38.1&nbsp;mm (1.5&nbsp;in), but sizes range up to 100&nbsp;mm (4&nbsp;in) or greater.<ref>M. Hussain, L. Rynn, C. Riordan and P. J. Regan, Nipple-areola reconstruction: outcome assessment; European Journal of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 26, Num. 7, December, 2003</ref> Lactating women, or women with particularly large breasts, may have even larger areolæ.
] by the baby stimulates slowly and rapidly adapting ]s that are densely packed around the areolar region.


==Diseases==
Rated according to the ] of physical development, in stage four, the areolæ are raised.<ref name="first.aid.usmle">{{cite book|last1=Le|first1=Tao|last2=Bhushan |first2=Vikas |last3=Tolles |first3=Juliana |title=First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2011|year=2011|publisher=McGraw-Hill Medical}}</ref> In stage five, they are no longer raised.<ref name="first.aid.usmle" />
⚫ ] is a malignant condition that outwardly may have the appearance of ], with skin changes involving the areola and nipple.


===Diseases=== ==See also==
⚫ *]
⚫ *] is a malignant condition that outwardly may have the appearance of ], with skin changes involving the areola and nipple.

== See also ==
⚫ * ]


==References== ==References==
{{Commons category}} {{Commons category|Areola}}
{{Wiktionary}} {{Wiktionary}}
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


{{Breast anatomy}} {{Breast anatomy|state=collapsed}}
{{Breastfeeding}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 03:12, 10 January 2025

Pigmented area on the breast around the nipple For the other anatomic sense, see Loose connective tissue. For other uses, see Areola (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Aureola or Ariola.
This article needs more reliable medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. Please review the contents of the article and add the appropriate references if you can. Unsourced or poorly sourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Areola" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2017)
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
TA98A16.0.02.012
TA27106
FMA67796
Anatomical terminology[edit on Wikidata]
A male breast.

The human areola (areola mammae, /əˈriːələ/ or /ˌæriˈoʊlə/) 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.

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.

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

Size and shape

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). 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.

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.

Pregnancy can cause enlargement of the areola tissue and of Montgomery glands or tubercles.

Mechanoreceptors

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

Diseases

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

References

  1. OED 2nd edition, 1989.
  2. ^ "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. ^ 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. PMC 5715231.
  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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