A supernumerary nipple is an
additional instance of
nipple
The nipple is a raised region of tissue on the surface of the breast from which, in females, milk leaves the breast through the lactiferous ducts to feed an infant. The milk can flow through the nipple passively or it can be ejected by smooth mu ...
occurring in
mammal
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
s, including humans. They are often mistaken for
moles Moles can refer to:
* Moles de Xert, a mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain
* The Moles (Australian band)
*The Moles, alter ego of Scottish band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound
People
*Abraham Moles, French engin ...
. Studies variously report the prevalence of supernumerary nipples as approximately 1 in 18 and 1 in 40.
[ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s004310050944 Supernumerary nipples: prevalence, size, sex and side predilection – a prospective clinical study, H. Schmidt, European Journal of Pediatrics volume 157, pages 821–823 (1998).][ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/511138
Occurrence of Supernumerary Nipples in Newborns
Francis Mimouni, MD; Paul Merlob, MD; Salomon H. Reisner, MB, ChB, Am J Dis Child. 1983;137(10):952-953.]
The nipples appear along the two vertical "
milk line
The mammary ridge or mammary crest is a primordium specific for the development of mammary glands.
Development
The mammary ridge is primordial for the mammary glands on the chest in humans, and is associated with mammary gland and breast develop ...
s", which start in the armpit on each side, run down through the typical nipples and end at the groin. They are classified into eight levels of completeness from a simple patch of hair to a milk-bearing
breast
The breast is one of two prominences located on the upper ventral region of a primate's torso. Both females and males develop breasts from the same embryological tissues.
In females, it serves as the mammary gland, which produces and secret ...
in miniature.
Types
''Polythelia'' refers to the presence of an additional nipple alone while ''
polymastia'' denotes the much rarer presence of additional
mammary gland
A mammary gland is an exocrine gland in humans and other mammals that produces milk to feed young offspring. Mammals get their name from the Latin word ''mamma'', "breast". The mammary glands are arranged in organs such as the breasts in primat ...
s.
Although usually presenting on the milk line, pseudomamma can appear as far away as the foot.
A possible relationship with
mitral valve prolapse
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a valvular heart disease characterized by the displacement of an abnormally thickened mitral valve leaflet into the left atrium during systole. It is the primary form of myxomatous degeneration of the valve. There ar ...
has been proposed.
Clinical significance
Clinical presentation
May remain undetected. Occasionally, the supernumerary nipple is noticed when hormonal changes during adolescence, menstruation, or pregnancy cause increased pigmentation, fluctuating swelling, tenderness, or even lactation.
Associations
It is said to be found in association with many syndromes and other conditions:
*
McKusick–Kaufman syndrome
McKusick–Kaufman syndrome is a genetic condition associated with MKKS.
The condition is named for Dr. Robert L. Kaufman and Victor McKusick. It is sometimes known by the abbreviation MKS. In infancy it can be difficult to distinguish between MK ...
*
Char syndrome
Char syndrome is an autosomal dominant congenital disease caused by mutations in TFAP2B gene which affects the development of the bones of the face as well as the heart and limbs. During embryo development, TFAP2B regulates the production of the p ...
*
Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome
Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome (SGBS), is a rare inherited congenital disorder that can cause craniofacial, skeletal, cardiac, and renal abnormalities.
The syndrome is inherited in an X-linked recessive fashion, where males express the phenoty ...
Treatment and prognosis
Most often no treatment is required; however, a protruding embarrassing supernumerary nipple can be removed surgically, if desired. Removal using liquid nitrogen cryotherapy has also been described.
Society and culture
Television
''The Triple Nipple Club'' is a documentary shown on
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
which explored the biological mystery of the supernumerary nipple. First broadcast on 2 January 2008, it was directed and produced by Dan Louw and commissioned as part of Channel 4's
''First Cut'' series. The film focuses on Louw's attempts to understand why he was born with extra nipples, a condition he shares with the likes of
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971), former stage name Marky Mark, is an American actor, businessman, and former rapper. He has received multiple accolades, including a BAFTA Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards, three ...
,
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born 2 May 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. Her music career began in 2005 when she made some of her vocal recordings publi ...
, and
Tilda Swinton
Katherine Matilda Swinton (born 5 November 1960) is a British actress. Known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to ...
, as well as well known TV and film characters such as the Bond villain
Scaramanga and
Chandler Bing
Chandler Muriel Bing is a fictional character from the NBC sitcom ''Friends'', portrayed by actor Matthew Perry. Chandler was born to Nora Tyler Bing, an erotic romance novelist, and Charles Bing, a gay female impersonator and star of a Las Vegas ...
. Fascinated and confused by this seemingly pointless mutation, Louw sets off on a personal journey of discovery to try and unwrap "the riddle of the triple nipple". He starts out by consulting the man in the street and even a renowned
teratologist
Teratology is the study of abnormalities of physiological development in organisms during their life span. It is a sub-discipline in medical genetics which focuses on the classification of congenital abnormalities in dysmorphology. The related t ...
, an expert in physical
mutations
In biology, a mutation is an alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA. Viral genomes contain either DNA or RNA. Mutations result from errors during DNA or viral replication, mi ...
. After testing the notion that extra nipples could be a sign of fertility, he discovers that they are actually an
atavism
In biology, an atavism is a modification of a biological structure whereby an ancestral genetic trait reappears after having been lost through evolutionary change in previous generations. Atavisms can occur in several ways; one of which is when ...
, or evolutionary 'holdover' – a sign of how humans evolved.
Salon , Why do men have nipples?
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See also
* Accessory breast
Accessory breasts, also known as polymastia, supernumerary breasts, or ''mammae erraticae'', is the condition of having an additional breast. Extra breasts may appear with or without nipples or areolae. It is a condition and a form of atavism wh ...
* Grace Sherwood
Grace White Sherwood (1660–1740), called the Witch of Pungo, is the last person known to have been convicted of witchcraft in Virginia.
A farmer, healer, and midwife, she was accused by her neighbors of transforming herself into a cat, damag ...
, sentenced to jail for witchcraft partly on the basis of having "two things like titts on her private parts of a black coller olor
An olor is a piece of cowhide or plastic tied onto a male goat like a skirt. It is used by Kenyan goatherders to prevent bucks from impregnating the female goats during times of drought.
References
External links
Society of Kenya
Contra ...
* Polydactyly
Polydactyly or polydactylism (), also known as hyperdactyly, is an anomaly in humans and animals resulting in supernumerary fingers and/or toes. Polydactyly is the opposite of oligodactyly (fewer fingers or toes).
Signs and symptoms
In humans ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Supernumerary Nipple
Supernumerary body parts
Cutaneous congenital anomalies
Congenital disorders of breasts
de:Milchleiste#Fehlbildungen