Montgomery glands
From ChildWiki.com
The areolar glands, also called Montgomery glands, are situated surrounding the nipple area of the breast, and the areola, just beneath the skin, inside the fat tissues. They are sebaceous glands, and will secrete an oily substance that lubricates the nipples and the tips of the breasts. This protects the nipples and assures that they are hydrated at all times, especially during breastfeeding.
The Montgomery glands include a section of nodules situated on the surface of the skin called the Montgomery tubercles. They look like round bumps, “goose bumps”, and they are found on both the area around the nipple and on the nipple. They are not felt normally. They will become visible and erect when the nipple is stimulated and when the woman is pregnant. These areas on the skin’s surface are softer than the rest of the skin on the breast.
It is normal to have anywhere between 4 to 28 Montgomery glands on one breast.
Their name comes from Dr. William Fetherstone Montgomery (1797-1859), an obstetrician from Ireland who was the first to document them.
