The breast

The breast is the anterior region of the human upper body between the neck or shoulders and the lowest costal arch. The bony base of the breast forms the ribcage with sternum and ribs. The latter extend back to the thoracic spine, which although also forms part of the thorax, but can not be assigned to the area of ​​the chest. The thorax encloses the so-called thoracic cavity in which the heart and lungs are located. Air and esophagus are also protected inside the thorax. The chest is covered by the chest muscles - the pectoralis major muscle and the pectoralis minor muscle, which, among other things, perform essential tasks in arm movements and act as so-called respiratory aid muscles.

Above the chest muscles, normal-weight men have only a relatively thin layer of fat and connective tissue, as well as the skin. The female breast, however, is characterized by more pronounced fat and connective tissue structures, which lead to the clearly visible curves, which are also referred to as breasts (strictly speaking, the breast is the space between the two female breasts). In the breasts of the woman are the mammary glands, which serve for the formation of the mother's milk, which can be delivered by nursing over the nipples. The breast is part of the secondary sexual characteristics in women.

Breast disorders can affect the bones, muscles and other tissue structures outside the thorax, but can also affect the organs inside the chest cavity. The female breast is particularly endangered in the "outer" diseases in the chest area. Breast inflammation is not uncommon and breast cancer (breast cancer) is the most common cancer in women. The tissue structures outside the thorax are much less affected by disease in men, but they can also develop breast cancer. In addition, painful tension of the muscles are relatively common, which usually go back to an unfavorable posture in everyday life. A rather rare disease in the chest that affects both men and women is the so-called Tietze syndrome, in which the cartilage attachments of the ribs on the sternum thicken pathologically. Furthermore, bruises and fractures of the ribs are among the "external" symptoms in the chest area.

Particularly serious diseases in the chest affect the organs inside the thorax. These "internal" diseases include chronic heart conditions such as coronary heart disease, as well as acute emergency events such as a heart attack. The lung may also be affected by acute illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis, but also by chronic conditions such as a COPD or even lung cancer. In addition, various diseases of the esophagus are possible, ranging from acute esophagitis to life-threatening perforations of the esophagus to esophageal cancer. Many of the "internal" diseases in the chest are associated with a stinging in the chest or chest pain, which is why urgent a differentiating examination should be made, which makes it clear whether a life-threatening illness or more harmless causes the complaints are based. If the chest pain accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, abdominal pain, tightness of the chest or nausea and vomiting, in any case, an emergency doctor should be promptly alerted, as these are typical signs of a heart attack. (Fp)

chest

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