Supernumerary nipple

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Supernumerary nipples. (Third and fourth nipple of male scandinavian). A - regular birthmark. B - regular nipple. C - Supernumerary nipple

A supernumerary nipple (also known as a third nipple, accessory nipple, polythelia or polymastia) is an additional nipple occurring in mammals, including humans. Often mistaken for moles, supernumerary nipples are diagnosed at a rate of 2% in women, lower in men. The nipples appear along the two vertical "milk lines", which start in the armpit on each side, run down through the typical nipples and end at the groin. They are classified into eight levels of completeness from a simple patch of hair to a milk-bearing breast in miniature. Polythelia refers to the presence of an additional nipple alone while polymastia denotes the much rarer presence of additional mammary glands.

[edit] Notable examples

• Actor and singer Mark Wahlberg is seen to have such a nipple below his left normal one.^[1]

• The model Masuimi Max has four nipples. She frequently models nude, revealing the supernumary nipples are visible as small, symmetrical freckle-like marks between her breasts and armpits, along the milk line.

• Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII of England, and mother of Elizabeth I, may have had a third nipple or even a third breast.^[2]

[edit] In popular culture

Fictional characters said to have "a third nipple" include:

• The assassin Francisco Scaramanga from the James Bond book and movie The Man with the Golden Gun

• In an Ed, Edd and Eddy episode, Eddy gets the boys temporarily out of a potentially embarassing situation by falsely claiming that Ed "has three nipples like that bad guy in James Bond". When Ed asks where it is, Eddy pinches one of Ed's nipples.

• Chandler Bing from the Friends TV show (He refers to his third nipple as his "nubbin", but eventually has it removed. When asked by another character if it could "do" anything, he replied that it could "open the service door to the magical land of Narnia.")
• Dr. Noah Faulkner in the film Bio-Dome
• Fortune teller Miss Ivannah from the movie Mallrats (although this is a fake – after the protagonists leave her shop, she peels the fake third nipple from her breast and eats it.)
• Krusty the Clown from The Simpsons TV show
• Kif Kroker from the Futurama TV show: his three nipples occur in a single horizontal row across his chest. However, since he is a humanoid alien, it could be argued that his third nipple is not, in fact, supernumerary, and rather may be considered a normal number for a member of his species.
• Malcolm's classmate in the Malcolm in the Middle TV show, episode 314 "Cynthia's Back" (which aired 17 February 2002.) Line: "I wonder if my third nipple can get me out of wrestling?"
• Dr. Archie Morris from the ER TV show.
• Mrs. Susandria from the Adam Sandler's film Eight Crazy Nights.
• Goldmember from the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember has a third nipple.
• Telly in the movie Kids says "that's my triple nipple" after being asked about a mark on his body.
• Fred Hale/Cauley Kipper in the novel Brighton Rock by Graham Greene had a supernumerary nipple.
• One of the mutant prostitutes in the movie Total Recall has three breasts (arranged horizontally), and thus three nipples (as evidenced by exposure of them).

[edit] References

1. ^ MarkWahlberg.com forum discussion of the topic (non-authoritative, by its nature)
2. ^ Article on the topic of Boleyn's third nipple/breast — This may well have been a slanderous rumour, as in Tudor times these "malformations" were considered to be a sign of the person having been a witch. The circumstances of her marriage to the king, who had divorced his first wife, made her a controversial figure.

• Healthwise "Accessory nipples (polythelia) and breast tissue (polymastia)" visted 26 Dec 2004
• BBC: Cancer hope over breast gene find
• My physical deformity

[edit] See also

• Accessory breast, a condition where an entire additional breast is present rather than simply an additional nipple