Re: vestigial nipples

From: Dehede011@aol.com
Date: Fri Nov 01 2002 - 08:46:31 MST


In a message dated 11/1/2002 1:12:00 AM Central Standard Time,
spike66@attbi.com writes: Question please, evolution wonks: since most
mammals have multiple offspring and consequently have 4 pairs of nipples, are
humans ever born with vestigial extra pairs of nipples? Does this phenomenon
have a name? How common is it?

Spike,
       Yep, I was standing in line for my physical to be discharged from the
Navy. You have seen or heard the drill. They, the doctors, line the guys up
in a row and walk down the line doing their examination.
       As they came up to my right side I heard one doctor remark
conversationally, "Look at that." As they passed me one said he saw it every
once in a while and the other said he had seen as many as four.
       I looked at my neighbor and he had three vestigal nipples on his
chest. Two in the normal positions and one lower down the torso forming a
row.
       I gathered from the doctors reaction that it was no big deal neither
common nor rare just totally unremarkable.
Ron h.



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