Human anatomy is fascinating in its diversity. However, there are certain body parts that the majority of people have a fixed number of – for example, two eyes, a single nose... and of course, two nipples.
Most readers may not even have given a passing thought to this question. However, here is some food for thought: is it true that some individuals have more than two nipples?
VERDICT:
TRUE
If you looked down at your chest after reading that, we don't blame you.
The condition of having more than two nipples is more common than many of us may realise. This curious phenomenon is known scientifically as supernumerary nipples.
Supernumerary nipples occur when extra nipples develop along the milk lines, which are two lines of embryonic tissue that run from the armpits to the groin on both sides of the body.
It's estimated that about 1-5% of the population has supernumerary nipples, making it a relatively common condition. The phenomenon can occur in both sexes but curiously, seems to be more prevalent in men than women.
For animals that bear large litters of offspring, such as cats and dogs, multiple pairs of functional mammary glands are meant to form along the milk lines. This is why many mammals have anywhere from eight to 18 teats.
However, in humans, milk lines are remnants of our evolutionary ancestors. This is why most supernumerary nipples in humans do not fully form and often appear like a small, mole-like spot. Rarely do the extra nipples develop into complete ones with an areola.
That being said, for those with moles along the milk line, there is a fair chance that they are actually extra nipples.
If this wasn't strange enough, the milk line is also the reason why males of certain species – including humans – are capable of lactating.
Fortunately, supernumerary nipples are a benign anatomical variation and do not typically cause health issues. They do not usually require treatment unless they cause discomfort or the individual desires removal for cosmetic reasons.
This doesn't stop the information from bringing on an existential crisis, though!
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