Nipple


The pigmented projection on the surface of the chest in the male and the breast in the female. In the mature female, ducts that conduct milk from the mammary glands to the surface of the breast exit through the nipple. The surrounding flat area of pigmentation is the areola.

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  • Nipple confusion

    A problem that may beset a bottlefed baby in which it forgets how to nurse on mother’s nipple. Breastfeeding requires far more vigorous mouth and tongue motions and greater muscle coordination than bottlefeeding. On bottle nipples or even pacifiers, a newborn can forget how to nurse properly. This confusion can lead to diminished or discontinued […]

  • Nipple shield

    A cap or dome, usually made today of plastic (formerly, rubber), placed over the nipple and areola during nursing to permit the flow of milk, provide a larger surface for the baby to latch onto, and protect the breast if it is sore. However, because a nipple shield may reduce the stimulation needed to sustain […]

  • Nipple, supernumerary

    An extra nipple. Supernumerary nipples are usually smaller than normal and vestigial (nonfunctional, without accompanying mammary glands). They tend to occur along a roughly curved line that extends from near the armpit, through the center of the normal breast, and down to the lower abdomen. This distribution is very similar to the location of nipples […]

  • Nirenberg , Marshall W.

    (b. 1927) American biochemist who shared the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work in deciphering the genetic code. Marshall Warren Nirenberg was born in New York City. In 1941, Marshall developed rheumatic fever, and the Nirenberg family moved to Orlando, Florida, to take advantage of the subtropical climate. During his teens, […]

  • Nit

    Nits are lice eggs. They are hard to see and are often confused with dandruff or hair spray droplets. Nits are found firmly attached to the hair shaft. They are oval and usually yellow to white. Nits take about a week to hatch. All nits must be removed to prevent reinfestation with lice. They can […]


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