Introduction
The male breast (Mamma masculina) is in principle designed in the same way as the female breast. In contrast to the female form, the male breast is not considered a secondary sexual characteristic.
Structure of the male breast
Due to a lack of hormonal processes, however, the male breast does not develop further, but does not have a greater function than the female breast. Men also have mammary glands. The glandular body is about 1.5 cm wide and 0.5 cm thick.
This is also one of the reasons why breast cancer by far does not only affect women but also men. However, the risk of breast cancer is much lower than for women. Only about every hundredth breast cancer affects the male breast.
A warning sign can be a gynecomastia in the form of a swelling or a lump of the breast on one side. Hormonal disorders or the use of doping or hormone preparations may also lead to the development of a female breast in men. The mammary gland is not visible under the skin of the male or female breast.
In each female breast there are about 10 mammary glands, in the male breast there are fewer. Topographically, the mammary gland is located slightly below the skin on the large pectoral muscle and is surrounded by fatty and connective tissue. The large pectoral muscle, Musculus pectoralis major, is the actual factor that defines a male breast.
If it is built up through regular and targeted strength training, a distinct breast shape can be recognized in men. On a muscular level, the aforementioned pectoralis major muscle is worth mentioning. It is considered the large pectoral muscle and is divided into 3 parts: Pars clavicularis (collarbone part) Pars sternocostalis (sternum-rib part) Pars abdominalis (abdominal part) It covers the entire rib area.
This muscle has its origins according to the names of its parts. The pars clavicularis has its origin at the middle half of the collarbone. Pars sternocostalis at the middle part of the sternum and at the cartilages of the 2nd -6th rib. The pars abdominalis on the front part of the tendon plate of the rectus abdominis muscle. ”
- Pars clavicularis (collarbone part)
- Pars sternocostalis (sternum-rib part)
- Pars abdominalis (abdominal part)
