Layout by: vehemency

WHY DO MEN HAVE NIPPLES?

In theory, we all could have fully functioning breasts capable of giving milk, but male breasts, including the nipples, do not get enough of the female hormone estrogen so they never achieve the ability to lactate (produce milk).

According to Dr. Bruce McEwen, a neuro-endocrinologist at Rockfeller University in New York and an international expert on sex hormones. "there are exaggerations in each sex based on early development and later hormone influence. The nipple happens to be one of the features whose full development has been restricted in the male during early development so it never develops its full function, which is found in the female." He adds that the presence of nipples and other breast tissue in men illustrates the fact that the basic body plan of men and women is similar.

As far as we can tell, male breast tissue has no function significance other that perhaps cushioning the heart and lungs from injury. However, nipples are considered erogenous in men as well as women.

Nevertheless, Dr. McEven pionts out that "the tissue is still there and can actually respond to female hormones in the male, as exemplified by the phenomenon of gynecomastia [abnormal enlargement of the breast in men]." Gynecomastia occurs when there is an excess of estrogen. It is commonly seen in male alcoholics as well.