Mens nipples

[Broomer]

Now, I know this is a weird topic but I just had another one of those weird thoughts. Just what is the bloody point of out blokes having nipples?

OK, I'll fess up about something, I was perving as I was walking home one day (it was during one of my really bad days at work). Got me thinking as to what is the point of blokes having nipples considering they serve no real purpose. Now no offence but let's face facts. Ladies needs nipples to feed the nippers. Also they look great on the ladies and it's a bit of a fashion statement as well. It's probably a secondary sexual characteristics as well.

But what is the point of us blokes having nipples? Unless there is some point in our evolution where men helped in breast feeding the kids, what's the point?

Anyway, just a thought.

Ka

[BeTheReds]

Well arguably you could say the same about the woman's clitoris (which cooresponds to the penis), or any other parts that have an obvious function on one of the sexes but not the other.

Quite simply, the point of nipples on men is because we'd need them if we were women.

[tripostrophe]

wait explain this thing about the clitoris corresponding to the penis btr

[Broomer]

^^ yeah. I'm confused meself. Anyway, the clitoris at least has some purpose in terms of sexual gratification. Which bloke gets turned on by the nipples?

Ka

[mrcfo]

Good old wikipedia...

Nipples on male mammals

From conception until sexual differentiation, all mammalian fetuses within the same species look the same, regardless of sex. In humans this lasts for around 14 weeks after which, genetically-male fetuses begin producing male hormones such as testosterone.[citation needed] Usually, males' nipples do not change much past this point. However, some males develop a condition known as gynecomastia, in which the fatty tissue around and under the nipple develops into something similar to a female breast. This may happen whenever the testosterone level drops.

[Broomer]

Good old wikipedia...

Nipples on male mammals

From conception until sexual differentiation, all mammalian fetuses within the same species look the same, regardless of sex. In humans this lasts for around 14 weeks after which, genetically-male fetuses begin producing male hormones such as testosterone.[citation needed] Usually, males' nipples do not change much past this point. However, some males develop a condition known as gynecomastia, in which the fatty tissue around and under the nipple develops into something similar to a female breast. This may happen whenever the testosterone level drops.

Laymen's terms: man boobs.

So, does that mean men can produce milk. Might come in handy next time I'm out of milk in the office.

Ka

[Sunflare]

Well arguably you could say the same about the woman's clitoris (which cooresponds to the penis), or any other parts that have an obvious function on one of the sexes but not the other.

Quite simply, the point of nipples on men is because we'd need them if we were women.

Makes sense because all fetuses start off growing in the womb as females but in the case of an unborn baby boy the male chromosomes kicks in at a certain stage during the pregnancy and then their male organs develops.

wait explain this thing about the clitoris corresponding to the penis btr

The clitoris functions in a sexual manner similar to our penises in certain respects, upon arousal in a woman, the clitoris becomes engorged with blood and becomes somewhat erect and enlarged, much like a penis does during erection. It also contains many clusters of nerves, which upon stimulation to it, pleasures the woman, again in the same way as the penis in a man does during arousal and the resultant sex act.

Which is why men perform oral sex on women during sexual encounters with the man aiming straight for the little cherry.

[mrcfo]

Makes sense because all fetuses start off growing in the womb as females but in the case of an unborn baby boy the male chromosomes kicks in at a certain stage during the pregnancy and then their male organs develops.



The clitoris functions in a sexual manner similar to our penises in certain respects, upon arousal in a woman, the clitoris becomes engorged with blood and becomes somewhat erect and enlarged, much like a penis does during erection. It also contains many clusters of nerves, which upon stimulation to it, pleasures the woman, again in the same way as the penis in a man does during arousal and the resultant sex act.

Which is why men perform oral sex on women during sexual encounters with the man aiming straight for the little cherry.

damnit, you took the words straight out of my brain in the first paragraph!

[cloudzero]

However, some males develop a condition known as gynecomastia, in which the fatty tissue around and under the nipple develops into something similar to a female breast. This may happen whenever the testosterone level drops.

or when it spikes

[tripostrophe]

The clitoris functions in a sexual manner similar to our penises in certain respects, upon arousal in a woman, the clitoris becomes engorged with blood and becomes somewhat erect and enlarged, much like a penis does during erection. It also contains many clusters of nerves, which upon stimulation to it, pleasures the woman, again in the same way as the penis in a man does during arousal and the resultant sex act.

Which is why men perform oral sex on women during sexual encounters with the man aiming straight for the little cherry.

Yeah but I mean it sounded like BTR was saying that it didn't serve an obvious function for women. Maybe I misread it.

[Broomer]

So all up, a man's nipple really serves no real purpose other then those of an aesthetic one. (Nipples makes the pecs looks good - if you have pecs to begin with).

So if you've got man boobs, you could probably just remove the nipples from a man.


Ka

[Sunflare]

Something I found at random on the internet:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/85/why-do-men-have-nipples


A Straight Dope Classic from Cecil's Storehouse of Human Knowledge
Why do men have nipples?
May 18, 1979

Dear Cecil:

As I understand it, the appendix at one time assisted in our digestion. Today it is useless. Our wisdom teeth, I have learned, helped our ancestors chew tough herbs and raw meat. Today they are a nuisance. But there is a third biological mystery for which I have no answer. So please explain, Cece: why do males have nipples?

— Susan L., Los Angeles

Dear Susan:

To tell you the truth, nobody really knows. The best explanation I've been able to find (and frankly it doesn't explain very much) is that nipples aren't a sex-linked characteristic. In other words, nipples are just one of those sexually neutral pieces of equipment, like arms or brains, that humans get regardless of sex.

As you may know, every human being gets a unique set of 23 pairs of chromosomes at conception. These fall into two categories. One pair of chromosomes determines sex--the XX combination means you become female, the XY combination means you become male.

The other 22 pairs, the non-sex chromosomes (they're called autosomes), supply what we might call the standard equipment that all humans get. These 22 pairs constitute an all-purpose genetic blueprint that in effect is programmed for either maleness or femaleness by the sex chromosomes. The programming is done by the hormones secreted by the sex glands.

For example, the autosomes give you a voice box, while the sex hormones determine whether it's going to be a deep male voice or a high female voice. Similarly, the autosomes give you nipples, and the sex hormones determine whether said nipples are going to be functioning (in females) or not (in males).

One interesting consequence of the developmental set-up just described is that during the very early stages of fetal life, before the sex hormones have had a chance to do their stuff, all humans are basically bisexual. Among other things, you have two sets of primitive plumbing--one male, one female. Only one set develops into a mature urogenital system, but you retain traces of the other for the rest of your life.

It's tempting, therefore, to say that male nipples are yet another vestige of your carefree bisexual youth. Trouble is, male nipples are hardly vestigial. They're full-sized and fully equipped with blood vessels, nerves, and all the usual appurtenances of functioning organs. Why this should be so nobody knows--in some other mammals, such as rats and mice, male nipple development is completely suppressed by the male sex hormones. (Incidentally, don't start thinking that at one time our human male ancestors must have suckled their young. So far as anybody knows, male lactation has never developed in any mammalian species.)

Human nipples appear in the third or fourth week of development, well before the sex characteristics. (The sex hormones start to assert themselves at seven weeks.) As many as seven pairs of nipples are arranged along either side of a "milk line," a ridge of skin that runs from the upper chest to the navel.

Normally only one pair amounts to anything, but on about one baby in a hundred you can detect some vestige of the other ones, usually on the order of a freckle. There are cases of women who ended up with an extra breast, which made them freak show candidates not so many years ago. Luckily today the women can avail themselves of corrective surgery while the rest of us can watch Jenny Jones.

Anyway, both male and female babies are born with the main milk ducts intact--the gland that produces milk is there in the male, but it remains undeveloped unless stimulated by the female hormone, estrogen. Occasionally, a male baby is born with enough of his mother's estrogen in his body to produce a bizarre phenomenon known as "witches' milk," with the male glands, suitably stimulated, pumping away at the moment of birth.

In the adult male, the dormant glands can still be revived by a sufficient dose of estrogen. Actual lactation is rare--only a couple cases have been recorded. But at least one writer (Daly, 1978) has suggested that the "physiological impediments to the evolution of male lactation do not seem individually surmountable." Meaning we may yet see the dawn of the truly liberated household.

— Cecil Adams


Laymen's terms: man boobs.

So, does that mean men can produce milk. Might come in handy next time I'm out of milk in the office.

Ka

Well it is true that many male transsexuals who undergo estrogen therapy to develop the female physique desired by the patient can indeed eventually produce milk, but I believe that is not too common. Also some neonates also develop this tenancy to produce milk due to an upset in hormone equilibrium. (See the last two paragraphs in the above article for scientific explanation)

[Broomer]

^^ Interesting, great article... so again, next time you're out of milk, head over to IT or Accounts and milk the nearest bloke there.
(Tip: no cold hands or they might kick)

BTW, this is one reason why I watch the amount of soy milk I drink.

Ka

[BeTheReds]

Yeah but I mean it sounded like BTR was saying that it didn't serve an obvious function for women. Maybe I misread it.

no, It does have an obvious function, but I was using it as an example of how things on mens' bodies coorespond to things on womens' bodies and have different functions.

[popculturepooka]

Now, I know this is a weird topic but I just had another one of those weird thoughts. Just what is the bloody point of out blokes having nipples?

OK, I'll fess up about something, I was perving as I was walking home one day (it was during one of my really bad days at work). Got me thinking as to what is the point of blokes having nipples considering they serve no real purpose. Now no offence but let's face facts. Ladies needs nipples to feed the nippers. Also they look great on the ladies and it's a bit of a fashion statement as well. It's probably a secondary sexual characteristics as well.

But what is the point of us blokes having nipples? Unless there is some point in our evolution where men helped in breast feeding the kids, what's the point?

Anyway, just a thought.

Ka

I'm surprised no smart ass has wandered along and said "well, technically, there is no point in evolution, so your question is moot".

[Broomer]

I'm surprised no smart ass has wandered along and said "well, technically, there is no point in evolution, so your question is moot".

I never liked evolution. It's over-reated. Life was simpler just running around eating and bonking and trying not to get eaten.

These days, on top of the three above, everything is just that much harder.

Ka