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Glite Dictionary
Montgomery's tubercle

Montgomery's tubercle

9.9
A small bump on the dark area around the nipple that makes oil to help breastfeeding
  • noun
  • /mɒnˈɡʌmbəriːz ˈtjuːbɜːrkl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tubérculo de Montgomery
  • The midwife explained that Montgomery's tubercle helps keep the nipple lubricated during breastfeeding.

Examples

  • The doctor explained that Montgomery's tubercle serves an important function in breastfeeding mothers.

  • She noticed a small Montgomery's tubercle on her breast.

  • During her pregnancy, she noticed the Montgomery's tubercles around her nipples became more prominent.

  • Enlarged Montgomery's tubercles can be one of the early signs of pregnancy.

  • During pregnancy, Montgomery's tubercles become more prominent.

  • She learned that Montgomery's tubercle can become swollen as her body prepares for nursing.

  • He noticed several Montgomery's tubercles on his wife's areola when they discussed breastfeeding.

Surface Forms

Montgomery's tubercle singular
Montgomery's tubercles plural

Morphology

Montgomery's + tubercle

The phrase is an eponymous anatomical term: the possessive proper name 'Montgomery's' provides no general semantic cue for learners and 'tubercle' (a small nodule/lesion) suggests a generic bump or possible pathology. The specific sense — a normal sebaceous gland on the areola that secretes lubricating fluid during breastfeeding — is specialized medical knowledge and not derivable from the parts, so a B1 learner would not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Montgomery's tubercle is named after Dr. Montgomery, a doctor who first described the little bumps on the areola, the darker skin around the nipple. Those bumps, called tubercle, are small oil glands that keep the skin soft and help with 'breastfeeding', so the name now refers to these glands.