Nipple

Nipple
A nipple, areola and breast of a female human
Details
Part ofBreast
Identifiers
Latinpapilla mammaria
MeSHD009558
TA98A16.0.02.004
TA27105
FMA67771
Anatomical terminology

The nipple is a raised region of tissue on the surface of the breast from which, in lactating females, milk from the mammary gland leaves the body through the lactiferous ducts to nurse an infant.[1][2] The milk can flow through the nipple passively, or it can be ejected by smooth muscle contractions that occur along with the ductal system. The nipple is surrounded by the areola, which is often a darker colour than the surrounding skin.[3]

Male mammals also have nipples but without the same level of function or prominence. A nipple is often called a teat when referring to non-humans. "Nipple" or "teat" can also be used to describe the flexible mouthpiece of a baby bottle.

In humans, the nipples of both males and females can be sexually stimulated as part of sexual arousal. In many cultures, female nipples are sexualized,[4] or regarded as sex objects and evaluated in terms of their physical characteristics and sex appeal.[5] Some cultures have little to no sexualization of the nipple, and going topless presents no barrier.[clarification needed]

  1. ^ "nipple". Retrieved 4 August 2017 – via The Free Dictionary.
  2. ^ Hansen 2010, p. 80.
  3. ^ "nipple". Taber's Online. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  4. ^ Beer, Todd (2015-05-12). "Social Construction of the Body: The Nipple". SOCIOLOGYtoolbox. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
  5. ^ Dewar, Gwen (October 2012). "The sexualization of girls: Is the popular culture harming our kids?". Parenting Science.