Areola

The human areola (areola mammae, /əˈrələ/[1][2] or /ˌæriˈlə/[2][3]) is the pigmented area on the breast around the nipple. Areola, more generally, 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.

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
A male areola

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. Other small openings in the areola are sebaceous glands, also known as areolar glands.[4]


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