Nipple and areola
Papilla mammaria et areola
Integumentary (skin)SkinThoraxLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- The nipple (mammary papilla) surrounded by the pigmented areola, which carries small raised areolar (Montgomery) glands. In men it lies over the 4th intercostal space in the mid-clavicular line.
- Function
- Rudimentary in males; sensitive erogenous skin with smooth muscle but no functioning gland.
- Size
- Areola ~2.5 cm diameter, nipple ~5 mm
- Clinical note
- Extra (supernumerary) nipples along the embryonic milk line from axilla to groin occur in 1–5 % of people.