Editing Breast (section)

===Morphology===
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The morphologic variations in the size, shape, volume, tissue density, pectoral locale, and spacing of the breasts determine their natural shape, appearance, and position on a woman's chest. [[Breast size]] and other characteristics do not predict the fat-to-milk-gland ratio or the potential for the woman to nurse an infant. The size and the shape of the breasts are influenced by normal-life hormonal changes (thelarche, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause) and medical conditions (e.g. [[virginal breast hypertrophy]]).<ref name=wood>{{cite journal |vauthors = Wood K, Cameron M, Fitzgerald K |title = Breast Size, Bra Fit and Thoracic Pain in Young Women: A Correlational Study |journal = Chiropractic & Osteopathy |volume = 16 |page = 1 |year = 2008 |pmid = 18339205 |pmc = 2275741 |doi = 10.1186/1746-1340-16-1 |doi-access = free }}</ref> The shape of the breasts is naturally determined by the support of the suspensory Cooper's ligaments, the underlying muscle and bone structures of the chest, and by the skin envelope. The suspensory ligaments sustain the breast from the clavicle (collarbone) and the clavico-pectoral fascia (collarbone and chest) by traversing and encompassing the fat and milk-gland tissues. The breast is positioned, affixed to, and supported upon the chest wall, while its shape is established and maintained by the skin envelope.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Breast Anatomy – Breast360.org {{!}} The American Society of Breast Surgeons Foundation |url=https://breast360.org/topic/2017/01/01/breast-anatomy/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=breast360.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Breast Anatomy {{!}} SEER Training |url=https://training.seer.cancer.gov/breast/anatomy/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=training.seer.cancer.gov}}</ref> In most women, one breast is slightly larger than the other.<ref name=love_c1/> More obvious and persistent asymmetry in breast size occurs in up to 25% of women.<ref name=mgh2010>{{cite web |url = http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/children/adolescenthealth/articles/aa_breast_development.aspx |title = Breast Development |publisher = Massachusetts Hospital for Children |access-date = 2 June 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101225165742/http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/children/adolescenthealth/articles/aa_breast_development.aspx |archive-date = 25 December 2010 |url-status = dead |df = dmy }}</ref>

The base of each breast is attached to the chest by the deep fascia over the pectoralis major muscles. The base of the breast is semi-circular, however the shape and position of the breast above the surface is variable.<ref>{{Citation |last=Gould |first=Stanley F. |title=Anatomy of the Breast |date=1983 |work=Lactation: Physiology, Nutrition, and Breast-Feeding |pages=23–47 |editor-last=Neville |editor-first=Margaret C. |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4613-3688-4_2 |access-date=2024-12-25 |place=Boston, MA |publisher=Springer US |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4613-3688-4_2 |isbn=978-1-4613-3688-4 |editor2-last=Neifert |editor2-first=Marianne R.}}</ref> The space between the breast and the pectoralis major muscle, called [[retromammary space]], gives mobility to the breast. The chest ([[thoracic cavity]]) progressively slopes outwards from the thoracic inlet (atop the [[Human breastbone|breastbone]]) and above to the lowest ribs that support the breasts. The inframammary fold (IMF), where the lower portion of the breast meets the chest, is an anatomic feature created by the adherence of the breast skin and the underlying connective tissues of the chest; the IMF is the lower-most extent of the anatomic breast. Normal breast tissue has a texture that feels nodular or granular, with considerable variation from woman to woman.<ref name="love_c1" />

Breasts have been categorized into four general morphological groups:  "flat, spheric, protruded, and drooped", or "small/flat, large/inward, upward, and droopy".<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Suh |first1=Minyoung |last2=Park |first2=Jung Hyun |date=2022-01-01 |title=Breast Geometry Characterization of Young American Females Using 3D Image Analysis |journal=Applied Sciences |language=en |volume=12 |issue=17 |pages=8578 |doi=10.3390/app12178578 |doi-access=free |issn=2076-3417}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Brassiere Pattern Development Based on 3D Measurements of Upper Body Types for Women in Their 30's |url=https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO200827464608269.page |journal=The Research Journal of the Costume Culture|date=2008 |volume=16 |issue=3 |last1=Mi-Sook |first1=Cho }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Coltman |first1=Celeste E. |last2=Steele |first2=Julie R. |last3=McGhee |first3=Deirdre E. |date=2018-09-02 |title=Effects of age and body mass index on breast characteristics: a cluster analysis |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140139.2018.1481229 |journal=Celeste E. Coltman |volume=61 |issue=9 |pages=1232–1245 |doi=10.1080/00140139.2018.1481229 |pmid=29792567 |issn=0014-0139}}</ref>

==== Support ====
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While it is a common belief that breastfeeding causes [[Ptosis (breasts)|breasts to sag]],<ref name="lauersen">{{cite book |last = Lauersen |first = Niels H. |title = The Complete Book of Breast Care |year = 1998 |publisher = Fawcett Columbine/Ballantine |location = New York |isbn = 978-0-449-91241-6 |edition = 1st Trade Paperback |author2 = Stukane, Eileen |quote = ...there is no medical reason to wear a bra, so the decision is yours, based on your own personal comfort and aesthetics. Whether you have always worn a bra or always gone braless, age and breastfeeding will naturally cause your breasts to sag. |url = https://archive.org/details/completebookofbr00laue_0 }}</ref> researchers have found that a woman's breasts sag due to four key factors: cigarette smoking, [[gravidity|number of pregnancies]], [[gravity]], and weight loss or gain.<ref name="thompson">{{cite journal |doi = 10.1016/j.asj.2008.07.004 |title = The Effect of Breastfeeding on Breast Aesthetics |year = 2008 |last1 = Rinker |first1 = B |last2 = Veneracion |first2 = M |last3 = Walsh |first3 = C |journal = Aesthetic Surgery Journal |volume = 28 |issue = 5 |pages = 534–7 |pmid = 19083576 |doi-access = free}}
*{{cite news |author=Andrea Thompson |date=2 November 2007 |title=Breastfeeding Does Not Make Breasts Sag, Study Suggests |work=LiveScience |url = http://www.livescience.com/1998-breastfeeding-breasts-sag-study-suggests.html |access-date = 9 May 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120703153917/http://www.livescience.com/1998-breastfeeding-breasts-sag-study-suggests.html |archive-date = 3 July 2012 |url-status = live}}</ref> Women sometimes wear bras because they mistakenly believe they prevent breasts from sagging as they get older.<ref name="burn" /> Physicians, lingerie retailers, teenagers, and adult women used to believe that bras were medically required to support breasts. In a 1952 article in ''Parents' Magazine'', Frank H. Crowell erroneously reported that it was important for teen girls to begin wearing bras early. According to Crowell, this would prevent sagging breasts, stretched blood vessels, and poor circulation later on.<ref name="brumberg">{{cite book |url=http://course1.winona.msus.edu/pjohnson/e111/e111f99/brumberg.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020328155254/http://course1.winona.msus.edu/pjohnson/e111/e111f99/brumberg.htm |isbn=0-679-73529-1 |page=336|title=The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls|archive-date=28 March 2002|first=Joan Jacobs |last=Brumberg|year=1998 |publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing }}</ref> This belief was based on the false idea that breasts cannot anatomically support themselves.<ref name="burn">{{cite web |title=Don't burn your bra just yet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/dont-burn-your-bra-just-yet-622008.html |website=The Independent |date=22 September 2011 |access-date=8 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717232012/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/dont-burn-your-bra-just-yet-622008.html |archive-date=17 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="007b Breast">{{cite web |url=http://www.007b.com/why_wear_bras.php |title=Female Intelligence Agency: Why Do Women Wear Bras? |publisher=007b Breast |access-date=10 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831044824/http://www.007b.com/why_wear_bras.php |archive-date=31 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Sports bra]]s are sometimes used for cardiovascular exercise, sports bras are designed to secure the breasts closely to the body to prevent movement during high-motion activity such as running. Studies have indicated sports bras which are overly tight may restrict respiratory function.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ocran |first1=Francisca Margarita |last2=Ji |first2=Xiaofen |last3=Zhai |first3=Lina |date=January 2022 |title=A study to evaluate pressure distribution of different sports bras |journal=Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics |language=en |volume=17 |doi=10.1177/15589250221118643 |issn=1558-9250|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kipp |first1=Shalaya |last2=Leahy |first2=Michael G. |last3=Sheel |first3=A. William |date=2024-06-01 |title=Sports Bra Restriction on Respiratory Mechanics during Exercise |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38350462/ |journal=Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise |volume=56 |issue=6 |pages=1168–1176 |doi=10.1249/MSS.0000000000003403 |issn=1530-0315 |pmid=38350462}}</ref>