male nipples

Embryonic developmental leftovers

Male nipples are the small projections on a man's chest, anatomically identical to female nipples but without functional purpose in lactation.

They exist because nipples develop in the embryo before sex differentiation occurs.

The phrase often appears in discussions of censorship double standards, since male nipples are acceptable to display publicly while female nipples are not: Why can he go shirtless but she can't? They're just male nipples.

Related
  • areolaPigmented ring around nipple
  • chestRibcage region or strongbox
  • pecsChest muscles, informally
  • torsoBody without limbs
  • shirtlessWithout upper garment

tank top · anatomy · vestigial · sensitive · nerve endings · piercing · lactation · mammary · skin · body hair · body · muscle · bare · swimsuit · beach · sun exposure · sunburn · tattoo

Categories
Opposites
biological function

male nipplesmammary glands

Milk-secreting organs

udders · teats · breasts

cultural/social significance

male nipplesbreasts

Mammary tissue areas

functional vs vestigial organs

male nipplestailbone

Fused vertebrae at spine's base

Family

male, males, maleness, nipple, nipples

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG