Areolar gland

Areolar glands
Areolar glands
	Montgomery tubercles
Details
Function	lubricate nipple
Identifiers
Latin	glandulae areolares
TA98	A16.0.02.013
TA2	7107
FMA	58090
	Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Areolar glands, or Glands of Montgomery, are sebaceous glands in the areola surrounding the nipple. They produce an oily secretion to lubricate the nipple.

Structure[]

Areolar glands are round bumps found in the areola, and sometimes on the nipple.

Variation[]

The tubercles become more pronounced during pregnancy. The number of glands can vary greatly, usually averaging from 4 to 28 per breast.^[1]

Function[]

Areolar glands make oily secretions (lipoid fluid) to keep the areola and the nipple lubricated and protected. Volatile compounds in these secretions may also serve as an olfactory stimulus for newborn appetite.^[2] They can become exposed and raised when the nipple is stimulated. The skin over the surface opening is lubricated and tends to be smoother than the rest of the areola.

Clinical significance[]

Areolar glands may secrete excessive amounts of oil.^[3] This is a neutral condition that rarely represents any underlying problem, unlike galactorrhoea.^[3]

History[]

Areolar glands may also be called Glands of Montgomery, or Montgomery tubercles. They are named after Dr. William Fetherstone Montgomery (1797–1859), an Irish obstetrician who first described them in 1837.^[4]^[5]

References[]

^ Donovan, Debbi (January 1, 2010). "What are Montgomery's tubercles?". Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
^ Doucet, Sébastien; Soussignan, Robert; Sagot, Paul; Schaal, Benoist (2009). Hausberger, Martine (ed.). "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.
^ ^a ^b Heyman, Richard B.; Rauh, Joseph (1983-12-01). "Areolar gland discharge in adolescent females". Journal of Adolescent Health Care. 4 (4): 285–286. doi:10.1016/S0197-0070(83)80013-8. ISSN 0197-0070. PMID 6227594 – via ScienceDirect.
^ synd/1513 at Who Named It?
^ Montgomery, William F. (1837). An exposition of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, the period of human gestation, and the signs of delivery. London: Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper. OCLC 738411950.^{[page needed]}

This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] Donovan, Debbi (January 1, 2010). "What are Montgomery's tubercles?". Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2008.

[2] Doucet, Sébastien; Soussignan, Robert; Sagot, Paul; Schaal, Benoist (2009). Hausberger, Martine (ed.). "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.

[:0-3] Heyman, Richard B.; Rauh, Joseph (1983-12-01). "Areolar gland discharge in adolescent females". Journal of Adolescent Health Care. 4 (4): 285–286. doi:10.1016/S0197-0070(83)80013-8. ISSN 0197-0070. PMID 6227594 – via ScienceDirect.

[4] synd/1513 at Who Named It?

[5] Montgomery, William F. (1837). An exposition of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, the period of human gestation, and the signs of delivery. London: Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper. OCLC 738411950.^{[page needed]}

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t Anatomy of the breast
Structure	Areola Areolar gland (gland of Montgomery) Cooper's ligaments Tail of Spence Mammary gland Lactiferous duct Terminal end bud Mammary alveolus Inframammary fold Intermammary cleft Nipple Retromammary space
Other	Dense breast tissue Mammary ridge