why do men have nipples when they serve no useful purpose?

Answer 1

During embryo development, there is a period before sex is applied. The sex is known, and future girls have two X chromosomes, while future boys have an X and a Y chromosome, but the sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, androgen) haven't been released yet. To this point, males and females develop identically.

Nipples develop on the embryo before the point at which sex is determined, so both males and females have them, but female nipples react to estrogen and develop differently afterwards.

Answer 2

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his Moment of Science will answer a question that must have been gnawing at you since you first noticed that human males have nipples. What genetic glitch left human males with female features?
Male nipples aren't exactly a genetic glitch: they are evidence of our developmental clock. In the early stages of life from conception until about 14 weeks, all human fetuses look the same, regardless of gender. At the tender age of 14 weeks post-fertilization , genetically-male fetuses begin to produce male hormones including testosterone. These hormones turn the androgynous fetus into a bouncing baby boy.

Here's where the developmental clock comes in. By 14 weeks, when the hormones turn on, the nipples have already formed. So, while our male fetus goes on to become a baby boy, he keeps his nipples, reminding all of us that people, male and female, started off the same way.

In most men, the nipples really don't change after this point, but some men can develop a condition called gynecomastia. In gynecomastia, the fatty tissue around the nipple develops and eventually appears similar to a female breast. This can occur whenever the testosterone level is lowered by medications, such as those that treat prostate cancer, and by natural hormonal changes due to obesity, adolescence or aging.

Luckily, most of us don't worry too much about male nipples, so men never have to worry about finding swimtrunks and a bikini top that fit.



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Last updated: 3 January 2002
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Answer 3

I believe all fetuses start off female and some change to male along the way. It Has also been said that a female clitoris has the beginnings of a male organ, but if the fetus remains female, it will not develop. I guess that's how hermaphrodites are formed. Female organs develop and so does the clitoris into a male organ.

Answer 4

I believe for the same reason that you have a brain that serves no useful purpose

Answer 5

well you know their is an easy answer for this one. Men were once the sex that gave birth, and they had these nipples to feed milk to they're young. Evolution will fix this concern of yours in time. Good question!

Answer 6

It a contingency move on the part of the Man upstairs ... in the even that the fetus turns out to be a female ... and if it dosen't well then that just makes us equally to women in that small way.

Answer 7

properly, first of all, all adult males commence out as women persons interior the uterus for some hours till the Y chromosome kicks in, so possibly that's a reason. i individually get lots excitement once I play with my nipples whilst masturbating or while somebody licks or sucks on them for the time of intercourse. as properly your %. might seem very strange without nipples....LOL

Answer 8

they do serve a purpose

Answer 9

they do have purpose....the left one is volume,and the right one is tuning.most women overlook them and go right for the microphone they never sing into it but; they hum a bit which usually leads to allot of feedback.

Answer 10

all babies are born female first and then the chromosomes determine the sex. Nipples have already formed.