Areolar gland

Common card · No. 208692

Areolar glands, also known as glandulae areolares, Montgomery glands, and tubercula areolae, are 10–15 elevations found on the areola. They are usually arranged in a circle around the nipple, and can be particularly visible when the nipple is erect. Their role is to promote adequate breastfeeding of the infant. They are sebaceous glands, which secrete sebum oil, a free fatty acid, onto the skin that lubricates the nipple when breastfeeding, protects the skin, and provides some air tightness between the infant's mouth and the nipple. They also emit odor compounds into the air that attract babies. In addition, a study of 121 white mothers found that higher numbers of areolar glands on the breasts (commonly known as AG number) was correlated with infants gaining weight faster and lactation beginning faster. A meta-analysis shows that odor compounds emitted from lactating breasts reduced arousal states in active newborns, increases arousal states in sleepy newborns, and causes babies to turn...

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