Nipples

Nipples Usually occur in pairs in humans and are located on the left and right of the chest. The main purpose of nipples is to supply the offspring with breast milk. The exits of the mammary glands are located on the nipple. The shape, size and pigmentation of the nipples vary from person to person.

What are nipples?

The Latin name of nipple reads Papilla mammae. The term mamille is also used by doctors as an abbreviation.

Colloquially they are often referred to as nipples. Both female and male individuals have nipples. Nipples usually appear in pairs, are created in the embryo at an early stage of development and develop before the sexual characteristics. In men, nipples later only have a cosmetic function. In some men, as in women, the nipples are a highly erogenous zone.

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In women, the nipple represents the opening of the mammary glands, which are located in the breast tissue. Your function as a milk dispenser is controlled by hormones during and after pregnancy.

Anatomy & structure

Female mammals have milk ridges with several teats that extend from the breast to the pubic area. Multi-teat mice have twelve in number. The teats of most mammals are similar to the human Nipples comparable in structure and function.

The nipples of primates are almost identical. There are up to 20 mammary glands in the female breast, the exits of which open into the nipple. These gland outlets cannot be seen with the naked eye. The nipple itself consists of pigmented skin tissue that is located above the fat and connective tissue and is surrounded by a areola pigmented in the same color.

In people with very light skin color, the nipples are also lighter than in dark-skinned people. The colors vary from pink to dark brown. When touched or cold, the nipples contract and harden (erect) as the surrounding hair follicles straighten up. The warts themselves are hairless.

Function & tasks

Outside of pregnancy or maternity, the 'Nipples woman's sensitive erogenous zones. In men, nipples are also used for sexual stimulation, but otherwise have an aesthetic function. The intensity of the feelings is different for each person.

Numerous nerve endings open into the nipple and areola. However, the original purpose of contracting the nipple is to help the baby find the source of food more quickly by mouth. The touch promotes the penetration of milk. For some mothers, the milk comes in just thinking about breastfeeding. If the milk comes out, the gland outlets can be easily localized. Breast milk can be seen drop by drop on the nipple and shoots out in a jet when pressure is applied. The ability of the female breast to produce mother's milk is maintained as long as the milk is needed.

The amount is adapted to the baby's growth and influenced by the sucking reflex on the nipple. Therefore, mothers can also express their milk mechanically and thus create a supply for times that they cannot breastfeed themselves. Normally, every healthy woman is able to produce breast milk. Even men can build up milk-carrying mammary gland tissue through hormone administration, which, however, is not desirable for very few men.

Illnesses & ailments

Hurts the nipple and if there are visible changes, there is usually a defect in the underlying tissue. It could be inflammation of the glands or breast cancer. In advanced breast cancer, the nipple can turn inside out. Otherwise, the skin of the nipple is very delicate and thin, and if mechanically irritated it can tear and become inflamed.

However, the skin regenerates quickly. If a nipple inflammation occurs during the breastfeeding phase, breastfeeding should be temporarily interrupted and the milk should be pumped out in order to prevent a milk blockage. Milk congestion is very painful for the breast and nipples. Congenital changes are so-called inverted or inverted nipples, in which the tip of the wart is directed inwards. Inverted warts can make breastfeeding difficult, but otherwise cause no discomfort.

The development of a third nipple in the breast or abdominal area is also possible for men and women. This anomaly appears as a raised birthmark in childhood and does not show specific characteristics of a nipple until puberty. Excess nipples are more of an aesthetic problem and can be surgically removed (also as part of breast cancer screening).