Why do men have nipples?

[Occulus]

I'm serious here. I saw in another thread that someone didn't understand why men have nipples. Neither do I. Do they serve a biological function in men? Is it some mysterious clue that the two human sexes were once much closer from a biological standpoint than we would readily believe?

What, exactly, are male nipples for?

[Safi]

1. Pinching.

Its all a part of God's plan.

[southerngirlwriter]

2. Agreed.

[Kadie]

4. or piercing.

[skooooo]

3. ..everyone starts out as a female...

...so there ya go.

[efhmc]

5. Men are mutations of women. Not being funny. Scientific fact.

[feistydem]

6. That explains a lot.

[unblock]

14. "mutation" is the wrong word

and the description is a bit simplistic. men start off with an xy chromosomal blueprint, and so are demonstrably, if not visibly, male from the moment of conception.

but you are correct in the sense that the fetus grows in a form that appears female to the eye until the signal is given, or not given, to start developing visibly male features, most obviously, genetalia.

[Warpy]

23. Not quite

At a chromosomal level, they may be XY. However, until that Y chromosome gets turned on by hormones during development, the male fetus is physically indistinguishable from a female fetus.

And that's where your nipples came from.

[The Traveler]

15. Not so.

A mutation is a trait acquired by offspring that is not derived from the genetic inheritance of the parents. (Cosmic ray strikes DNA stand, or other random perturbation happens, creating a different sequence.) Clearly that does not apply to sex selection, which is determined by the chromosomal package carried by the fertilizing sperm.

Male and female are variations on a common androgynous pattern. One gender develops features of that pattern more than others. For example men have a penis and women a clitoris, and men even have a small cavity where a uterus could have been formed (forget what that is called) ... but that is a matter of development as the embryo matures.

[Lisa0825]

30. An XY fetus which is deprived of the presence of testosterone

during development will develop as a female. Due to this, a researcher once gave a lecture at a school I worked at, which he titled (in order to generate publicity) "On the Disorer of Being Male: The Effects of the Toxin Testosterone on Fetal Development." (or something close to that anyway).

The lecture was standing room only.

[Occulus]

22. Rather funny fact, though...

[gyopsy]

7. To grow breasts as they gain weight

Fat usually clumps up around men's breasts in a comedic fashion as they gain weight. It's god's attempt at humor.

[Kadie]

10. Then they need the Manssiere

[TSIAS]

11. Or the "bro"

[Occulus]

33. How about some

good old exercise?

[Zinfandel]

8. To get implants.

[Warpy]

24. I've suggested more than once

...that male acquaintances who have a fascination with women who are upholstered in big, fake silicon boobs get the implants for themselfes, so they'll always have their favorite toys with them.

[Teddy_Salad]

42. This has actually happened

This happened a few years back in Australia.

Friends bet a guy thousands of dollars that he wouldn't get breast implants. To win the bet, the man had to keep them in for a certain amount of time, can't remember exactly how long but I think it was a couple of months.

This guy goes along with the bet, has the breast implants 'implanted' and at the end of the 'time limit' he decided to keep them in because he enjoyed the feel of them.

I have googled to try to find this story, but have had no success.
I wish I could find it, it was hilarious.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LostInAnomie]

13. ROFL

[The Traveler]

17. Exactly right! (n/t)

[MsSnood]

18. ROTFLMAO!!!!

[mike_c]

19. [spews beverage all over the monitor...]

good one

[unblock]

12. the two sexes ARE very similar

organs start off the same, then differential when bathed in the appropriate hormone at the right time of development. the same clump of cells could become either a penis or a vagina depending on the signals it gets at the right time.

the chest is similarly a one-size-fits-all model, equally suited for male or female, until it gets the right signals. having nipples there regardless is an advantage for the female, since there's less to differentiate, and no disadvantage for the male, since non-functional nipples are harmless.

in short, it's more efficient this way. incidently, men can grow breasts under certain conditions, usually due to abnormal or medicated hormone levels. however, i have heard stories of male-only communities where some men develop functional breasts. don't know if this rises above the rumor level, though.


in any event, from a darwinian perspective, it's very simple: there's nothing to select against non-functional nipples in the male, so they persist.

[put out]

35. I think, instead, that the penis and clitoris are the

organs which (is this the right word, science types?) homologous. Ovaries turn into testes. They descend into the scrotum, which is the labia majora in females.

We all start, in utero, looking like baby girls. Then that dang XY kicks up and the next thing you know, stinky socks everywhere. This takes about 5 years to happen.

[Ramsey]

16. Vestgial organs

Just like wisdom teeth and the appendix. From the days when we humans were parthenogentic.

Although, in some cases, they perform a vital stimulatory function.

[mike_c]

21. "From the days when we humans were parthenogentic?!"

Not!

[Ramsey]

37. Just a joke!

Was feeling silly last night

[Occulus]

32. So what purpose would the appendix serve?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. Check this out...

http://www.unassistedbirth.com/milkmen.htm

[Barbara Ann]

25. Because they are mammals

Mammals have nipples

[TahitiNut]

26. Best answer. And, fwiw, men CAN lactate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_lactation

[LDS Jock]

27. kissing and nibbling are a turn on

for this male anyway. I read somewhere it was possible to bring a male to orgasm through just nipple play. I have not proven that theory, but I'm willing to try.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

40. That makes you and me...

, according to Desmond Morris, "The Naked Ape," a part of 60% of the male population. (and yes, you read right!)

[LDS Jock]

28. delete

double post

[Elidor]

29. Men have nipples for your viewing enjoyment only

They may be played with, but don't expect us to get orgasmic about it. Like as not, you're annoying us. If you must play with something, try a bit lower.

[Lisa0825]

31. Just a fact few people realize....

A not so uncommon trait is to have an "extra nipple." In fact, MANY people have a small mole or two on their upper abdomen/chest area, and these were most likely vestigal nipples that never fully formed.

I won't disclose my personal info!LOL

[Occulus]

34. I knew a girl in college who had one.

She showed it to me- it looked like a man's nipple, next to a woman's.

WEIRD! But, she was kinda proud of it, in a look-what-I-have-that-you-don't kind of way...

[put out]

36. Yeah, lots of people have those.

It's really interesting. The ones I've seen are in line from the first breast down to the person's genitals. Think of a "V". Sometimes only on one side, sometimes only one extra, sometimes several.

So, my question is: Are they also sensitive to tactile stimulation?

[rbnyc]

38. So that bisexual women who settle down with men...

...at least have a little something to remind them of what they've given up.

[Laughing Mirror]

39. Fine-tuning knobs to Eros

If you have them sensitized.

[SarahB]

41. Something else for their partners to play with

[name not needed]

43. theyre fun to play with