I mean, guys don't nurse babies, so what purpose does the male nipple serve? I just don't get it, really.
2007-01-03 17:57:44 · 16 answers · asked by Andreamy_23 2 in Health ➔ Men's Health
All embryos in the womb are initially female so I guess my answer would be "just in case".
2007-01-03 18:00:33 · answer #1 · answered by Meridianhawk42 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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).
2007-01-03 18:00:48 · answer #2 · answered by EllisFan 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Very simple. All mamals are of female origin. Hormones customize to the gender. When a baby is forming, many parts are very similar. If the 2 berries descend, they are testicles. If they stay internal, they are ovaries.
It is a very similar process as used by GM and Ford. It is just less design work, so to speak.
But the purpose of the nipples once formed is none. However, the nerves are still the same as in a female.
2007-01-03 18:09:20 · answer #3 · answered by g g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a book called "Why do men have nipples?".
Basically, everyone starts out as a female in your mother's womb. It is only after a period of time that testosterone starts coming in and then the baby becomes a male.
The nipples are one of the first to be formed.
This is also why the sex of a baby cannot be determined too early.
2007-01-03 18:05:00 · answer #4 · answered by icedreamerz 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is because during the first 18 weeks or so of pregnancy a fetus has not developed sex organs yet. The hormones that do that do not kick in right away so babies are either sex for quite a while, and develop all their other parts. That is why boys have nipples too.
2007-01-03 18:04:13 · answer #5 · answered by connorsmom916 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When a embrio is formed whether it is male or female it has 8 nipples just like a cat or dog..when the embrio takes shape it diminishes to two
2007-01-03 18:08:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just how we were made. It's the same as the female's, so I don't understand why either. Just nature.
2007-01-03 18:09:33 · answer #7 · answered by ///DW-Drummer/// 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its a sensory thing, that we needed in the early man days.
2007-01-03 17:59:49 · answer #8 · answered by jackie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you check before asking a question, you will see that this question has been asked 653 times before!!
2007-01-04 06:31:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are all X as embryo's until dear old dad donates Y (boy) or X (girl) sperm.
2007-01-03 18:02:04 · answer #10 · answered by RiverGirl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋