Why do men have nipples?

[speakeasy]

Just had a weird thought this morning. Humans are the only mammals where the males as well as the females have nipples. Look at your dog, cat, a whale, a mouse, a cow, a sheep, whatever, none of the males have nipples. Since nipples only serve the biological function of providing milk to a newborn and males have no milk glands in the chest, why on earth do we men have nipples? I've never understood that.

 

[Duo]

The hormones that drive sex-specific characteristics (e.g. genitalia) kick in after many other features (e.g. nipples) have developed on the fetus.

 

[mpimpin]

Exactly what Duo said. There is actually a somewhat humorous book/cd called "Why do men have nipples" It's a sorta story but at the sametime asks and answers random health questions such as this.

 

[DJDamage]

The answer is that as embryos men and women have similar tissues and body parts. If anything the embryo follows a 'female template'. That is why nipples are present in both sexes. It is the effect of the genes, the Y chromosome and the hormone testosterone that brings about the changes and masculinises the embryo. Testosterone promotes the growth of the penis and testicles. Because nipples are there before this process begins the nipples stay!

A certain level of the female hormone estrogen is present in all men. If, as a result of disease or a condition affecting hormones, breast tissue in men can grow (gynecomastia- abnormal enlargement of breasts,) and men can produce milk.

 

[insidious]

We are all chipped from the same rock.

If there is a way to simplify, Mother Nature will.


Ovaries and testicles are identical early on.
Why is it men's and women's *******s are the same?

It's cause Mother Nature is efficient and doesn't create redundant equipment.

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

Vestigial organs. You don't need 'em, but chicks dig 'em.

 

[theunflushables]

Male chimps have nipples.

 

[azanon]

Vestigial organs. You don't need 'em, but chicks dig 'em.

Duo/DJ damage were right.

Nipples in male humans isn't an example of a vestigial "organ", because a vestigial organ is an organ that once had a purpose, or function, from an evolutionary point of view, but no longer does today (or has a very reduced function) though the structure itself remains. Examples in humans include the appendix and coccyx.

 

[WaterTiger]

Humans are the only mammals where the males as well as the females have nipples. Look at your dog, cat, a whale, a mouse, a cow, a sheep, whatever, none of the males have nipples.

You didn't look very close! ALL male mammals have nipples. My male cat has nipples and my male dog had nipples. They are much smaller and do not function, but they are there.

 

[lildevil]

I found this..

I just noticed...i haven't trimmed my nipples

Hey calm down..relax...it hppens to to the best of"...Oh my GOD milk is coming out

 

[ChrizZ]

...because you touch yourself at night.