Synonyms in a broader sense
mammary gland, mamma, mastos, mastodynia, mastopathy, mamma – carcinoma, breast cancer English: female breast, mamma
Anatomy of the nipple
The nipple (mamilla, nipple) is a circular structure in the middle of the breast region, which is more pigmented, i.e. darker than the surrounding skin. It consists of the actual nipple, i.e. the part that protrudes outwards and is darkest, and the areola surrounding it, which also has increased pigmentation but is located at the level of the skin. The size and colour of this areola can vary greatly from person to person, so a standard value does not really exist here.
Development
Nipples are found on both men and women. This is because they are formed in the womb at a very early stage of embryonic development, when it is not yet possible to distinguish between male and female characteristics. That is why, as many people do not know, men also have the capacity for mammary glands, which is why the administration of hormones nowadays even makes it possible for men to become capable of breastfeeding.
Normally, however, the mammary glands and warts have no function in men, except that, as in women, they can represent a state of sexual arousal through their erection. However, this erection cannot be compared with the erection of the sexual organs. It does not happen with the help of special erectile tissue, but is caused by the contraction of smooth muscles, triggered by the autonomous nervous system. This is similar to the principle according to which our body hairs straighten up when it is cold or when we experience strong emotions, and goose bumps appear because a reflex of the hair follicle muscle is triggered. The erection is caused by the release of the hormone oxytocin, which can be induced by cold, touch or other sexual stimuli, or by breastfeeding an infant.
Structure and function of the nipple
Women have about 15 to 20 mammary glands embedded in fatty tissue in their breasts, whose ducts all lead to the nipple. These mammary glands are only formed from the sebaceous gland tissue previously present there through the influence of female hormones during puberty. During the menopause, the female hormone balance changes again, which is why the mammary glands more or less regress at this time in many women.
The function of the nipples is to release the breast milk produced by the mammary glands, which serves as food for the infant. The nipple and the surrounding areola are a very sensitive area. They react very strongly to external stimuli and are therefore also called the erogenous zone. So when the infant wants to drink and is looking for the nipple, finding this structure is made easier for him or her by its erection and by the presence of many scent and sebaceous glands within the areola. When he sucks on the nipple, the mother’s milk empties.