Authors Mia Demant, MD, Magnus Balslev Avnstorp, MD, Mia Steffensen, MD, Tine Damsgaard, MD, PhD, Professor

The breast consists of a milk-producing mammary gland (green), enclosed by a skin envelope (yellow), resting on its breast footprint (blue). The footprint rests on the pectoral muscles and anterior thoracic wall. The mammary gland consists of adipose tissue (fat), milk-producing lobules and milk ducts leading the milk to the nipple-areola complex.

The normal breast

Formed like af bell or a tear drop. Lesser fullness in the top, heavier in the bottom. The areola complex with nipples point forward and a little to the sides.

The standard breast measures

On a young woman with a medium sized breast (300-500 ml) the measures should be:

• Jugulum (sternal notch) – Nipple Distance: 19-21 cm
• Medio clavicular point – Nipple Distance: 19-21 cm
• Nipple – Inframammary fold Distance: 5-6 cm
• Nipple – sternal bone distance: 9-11 cm

Pathophysiology

The patient may suffer from a congenital disease resulting in macromastia, micromastia or asymmetry of the breast or thorax.