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This article is about the anatomical structure. For other uses, see Nipple (disambiguation).
African Breast SG.jpg
A nipple, areola and breast of a human female.
Latin papilla mammaria
TA A16.0.02.004
FMA 67771
Anatomical terminology

In its most general form, a nipple is a structure from which a fluid emanates. More specifically, it is the projection on the breasts or udder of a mammal by which, in females, breast milk is delivered to a mother's young. In this sense, it is often called a teat, especially when referring to non-humans, and the medical term used to refer to it is papilla. A breast or nipple is sometimes called a "pap".[1] The rubber mouthpiece of a baby bottle or pacifier may also be referred to as a "nipple" or a "teat". In humans, nipples of both males and females are also one of the erogenous zones. In many cultures, human female nipples are sexualized[2] and it is considered a taboo[3][4] or a public indecency to uncover them in public.


The word "nipple" most likely originates as a diminutive of neb, an Old English word meaning "beak", "nose", or "face", and which is of Germanic origin.[5] The words "teat" and "tit" share a Germanic ancestor. The second of the two, tit, was inherited directly from Proto-Germanic, while the first entered English via Old French.[6][7]


The breast: cross-section scheme of the mammary gland:

In the anatomy of mammals, a nipple, mammary papilla or teat is a small projection of skin containing the outlets for 15–20 lactiferous ducts arranged cylindrically around the tip. The skin of the nipple is rich in a supply of special nerves that are sensitive to certain stimuli: these are slowly-adapting and rapidly-adapting cutaneous mechanocepetors. Mechanoreceptors are identified respectively by Type I slowly-adapting with multiple Merkel corpuscle end-organs and Type II slowly-adapting with single Ruffini corpuscle end-organs, as well as Type I rapidly-adapting with multiple Meissner corpuscle end-organs and Type II rapidly-adapting with single Pacinian corpuscle end-organs.

The dominant innervation to the nipple is derived from the lateral cutaneous branches of fourth intercostal nerve.[8] The physiological purpose of nipples is to deliver milk to the infant, produced in the female mammary glands during lactation. Marsupials and eutherian mammals typically have an even number of nipples arranged bilaterally, from as few as two to as many as 19.[9]

In humans

Changes in size

The average projection and size of human female nipples is slightly more than 3/8 of an inch (10mm).[10] This is equal to about 5 stacked quarters.[11] Pregnancy and nursing tend to increase nipple size, sometimes permanently. Pregnancy also deepens the pigmentation.

Sexual activity

Nipples of both males and females are one of the erogenous zones, which, when stimulated, leads to sexual arousal.[12] The male and female breast have a similar nerve supply but the nerves lie closer together in men, whereas in a female breast they further apart.[13] After puberty, female breasts turn more sensitive, likely due to hormonal influences.[14] During arousal they generally become stiff, erect and protrude.

Nipple stimulation is sometimes intense enough to elicit an orgasm in some women. Research has suggested the sensations are genital orgasms caused by nipple stimulation, and may also be directly linked to "the genital area of the brain".[15][16] In women, one study indicated that sensation from the nipples travels to the same part of the brain as sensations from the vagina, clitoris and cervix. Nipple stimulation may trigger uterine contractions, which then produce a sensation in the genital area of the brain.[16]

In male mammals

A human male nipple

From conception until sexual differentiation, all mammalian fetuses within the same species look the same, regardless of sex. In humans, this lasts for around 6 weeks, after which genetically-male fetuses begin producing male hormones such as testosterone.[17] Usually, males' nipples do not change much past this point; however, some males develop a condition known as gynecomastia, in which the fatty tissue around and under the nipple develops into something similar to a female breast. This may happen whenever the testosterone level drops. Gynecomastia, although not as severe, may occur in pubescent boys undergoing physical changes due to the rapid and uncontrolled release of hormones, including estrogen. The heightened levels of estrogen in pubescent male bodies leads to the swelling of the nipple and surrounding tissue – this can often look similar to a female human nipple – and may cause slight discomfort. Thus, because the "female template" is the default for humans, the question is not why evolution has not selected against male nipples, but why it would be advantageous to select against male nipples to begin with:



See also


  1. ^ "pap". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. September 2005.  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Todd Beer (2015-05-12). "Social Construction of the Body: The Nipple". Retrieved 2015-05-16. 
  3. ^ "When Did Bare Breasts Become Taboo?". Slate. 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2015-05-16. 
  4. ^ Sara Sheridan (2014-11-15). "Toplessness - the one Victorian taboo that won't go away". BBC Magazine. Retrieved 2015-05-16. 
  5. ^ Harper, Douglas (2001–2010). "nipple". Online Etymological Dictionary. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas (2001–2010). "teat". Online Etymological Dictionary. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
  7. ^ Harper, Douglas (2001–2010). "tit (1)". Online Etymological Dictionary. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
  8. ^ Grabb & Smith's Plastic Surgery 6th edition. Chapter 59 page 593
  9. ^ "The Wonder of Milk". Retrieved 2013-05-09. 
  10. ^ M. Hussain, L. Rynn, C. Riordan and P. J. Regan, "Nipple-areola reconstruction: outcome assessment"; European Journal of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 26, Num. 7, December, 2003
  13. ^ Sarhadi NS; Shaw Dunn, J; Lee, FD; Soutar, DS (1996). "An anatomical study of the nerve supply of the breast, including the nipple and areola". British Journal of Plastic Surgery. 49 (3): 156–164. doi:10.1016/S0007-1226(96)90218-0. PMID 8785595. 
  14. ^ Robinson JE; Short, R V (1977). "Changes in breast sensitivity at puberty, during the menstrual cycle, and at parturition". BMJ. 1 (1): 1188–1191. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.6070.1188. 
  15. ^ Levay, Simon; Sharon McBride Valente (15 November 2005). Human Sexuality, Second Edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc. ISBN 978-0-87893-465-2. 
  17. ^ "The Developing Embryo". Bland. Retrieved August 3, 2011. 
  18. ^ Simons, Andrew M. "Why do men have nipples? Scientific American (September 17, 2003)