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Article Contents

ABSTRACT

1.INTRODUCTION

2.THE STRUCTURE OF THE MILKY WAY BULGE

3.THE AGE OF THE MILKY WAY BULGE

4.THE CHEMICAL ABUNDANCES OF THE MILKY WAY BULGE

4.1.The metallicity distribution

4.2.The Bulge alpha-element abundances

5.THE BULGE KINEMATICS

6.THE MILKY WAY BULGE IN A NUTSHELL

7.THE MILKY WAY BULGE IN THE CONTEXT OF EXTERNAL GALAXIES

7,1,The X-shaped Bulge of the Milky Way: how rare is this?

7.2.Bulge formation scenarios

7.2.1.Bulges formed via disc instabilities

7.2.2.Bulges formed via violent processes

7.2.3.Composite bulges

8.CONCLUDING REMARKS

REFERENCES