Supernumerary nipple 997303 225283406 2008-07-12T21:44:58Z 75.90.167.215 /* Known examples */ {{cleanup|article|date=December 2007}} {{fictionlist|article|date=December 2007}} {{DiseaseDisorder infobox | Name = Supernumerary nipple | ICD10 = {{ICD10|Q|83|3|q|80}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|757.6}} | ICDO = | Image = 20060726_supernumerary_nipples_torso_w_text.png | Caption = Supernumerary nipples. (Third and fourth nipple of male Scandinavian). A - regular [[birthmark]]. B - regular [[nipple]]. C - Supernumerary nipple | OMIM = 163700 | MedlinePlus = 003110 | eMedicineSubj = derm | eMedicineTopic = 735 | DiseasesDB = 32140 | }} A '''supernumerary nipple''' (also known as a '''third nipple''', triple nipple, thripple, '''accessory nipple''', '''polythelia''' or '''polymastia''') is an [[supernumerary body part|additional]] [[nipple]] occurring in [[mammal]]s, including [[human]]s. Often mistaken for [[mole (skin marking)|moles]], supernumerary nipples are diagnosed at a rate of 1 in 18 humans<ref name="extraRate">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4202466.stm BBC article with reference to the rate of extra nipples appearing in humans] &mdash; </ref>. ==Presentation== The nipples appear along the two vertical "[[milk line]]s", 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. <ref>Kajava Y. The proportions of supernumerary nipples in the Finnish population. Duodecim 1915;1:143-70.</ref><ref name="titleeMedicine - Breast Embryology : Article by Don R Revis, Jr, MD">{{cite web |url=http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic214.htm |title=eMedicine - Breast Embryology : Article by Don R Revis, Jr, MD |accessdate=2007-12-03 |format= |work=}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" | '''type''' || '''[[gland|glandular tissue]]''' || '''[[nipple]]''' || '''[[areola]]''' || '''[[fat tissue]]''' || '''[[hair|hair patch]]''' |- | 1 || yes || || || || |- | 2 || yes || yes || || || |- | 3 || yes || || yes || || |- | 4 || yes || || || || |- | 5 ("pseudomamma") || || yes || yes || yes || |- | 6 ("polythelia") || || yes || || || |- | 7 ("polythelia areolaris") || || || yes || || |- | 8 ("polythelia pilosa ") || || || || || yes |} ''Polythelia'' refers to the presence of an additional nipple alone while ''[[Accessory breast|polymastia]]'' denotes the much rarer presence of additional [[mammary gland]]s. Although usually presenting on the milk line, pseudomamma can appear as far away as the foot.<ref name="titlePseudomamma on the foot: An unusual presentation of supernumerary breast tissue">{{cite web |url=http://dermatology.cdlib.org/124/case_presentations/pseudomamma/conde.html |title=Pseudomamma on the foot: An unusual presentation of supernumerary breast tissue |accessdate=2007-12-03 |format= |work=}}</ref> A possible relationship with [[mitral valve prolapse]] has been proposed.<ref name="pmid10980229">{{cite journal |author=Rajaratnam K, Kumar PD, Sahasranam KV |title=Supernumerary nipple as a cutaneous marker of mitral valve prolapse in Asian Indians |journal=Am. J. Cardiol. |volume=86 |issue=6 |pages=695–7, A9 |year=2000 |pmid=10980229 |doi=10.1016/S0002-9149(00)01057-2}}</ref> ==Known examples== * [[Lily Allen]] has a third nipple,[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JbieSOsMIk].<ref>{{cite episode | title = Lily Allen | series = The Friday Night Project | serieslink = The Friday Night Project | network = [[Channel 4]] | airdate = 2007-06-29 }}</ref> * [[Anne Boleyn]], second wife to [[Henry VIII]] of England, and mother of [[Elizabeth I]], is said have had a third nipple or even a third 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.<ref name="Boleyn">[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_053.html Article on the topic of Boleyn's third nipple/breast] &mdash; </ref> * [[Rudolf Hess]] (April 26, 1894–August 17, 1987), a leader of the [[Third Reich]] until his sudden excursion to Britain and subsequent capture by the [[World War II Allies|Allied forces]]. He lived out his remaining years at [[Spandau prison]]. <ref name="Hess">[http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/encyclopedia/article_show/Hess_Walter_Richard_Rudolf_18941987/m0001750.html?from=hotlink] &mdash; </ref> * Asian-American fetish model [[Masuimi Max]] has two supernumerary nipples, located above the breasts near the armpits. * [[Carrie Underwood]] said in her first [[American Idol]] audition, when Paula wasn't present, that she had a third nipple but had it removed even though it just looked like a mole. * [[Mark Wahlberg]] a.k.a. [[Marky Mark]] has a third nipple. ==In popular culture== {{unreferenced|section|date=December 2007}} Fictional characters said to have "a third nipple" include: * (1938) Fred Hale/Kolley Kibber in the novel ''[[Brighton Rock (novel)|Brighton Rock]]'' by [[Graham Greene]] had a supernumerary nipple. * (1974) The assassin [[Francisco Scaramanga]] from the [[James Bond]] book and movie ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (novel)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]'' * (1990) 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). * (1992) [[Krusty the Clown]] from ''[[The Simpsons]]'' has a "superfluous third nipple", as revealed in [[Kamp Krusty]]. * (1995) [[Chandler Bing]] from the ''[[Friends]]'' TV show. In [[The One With Phoebe's Husband]], he refers to his third nipple as his "nubbin", but eventually has it removed via an operation he calls a "nubbinectomy" (the word implying surgical removal of a nubbin). When asked by another character ([[Ross Geller|Ross]]) if it could "do" anything, he replied that it could "open the delivery entrance to the magical land of [[Narnia (world)|Narnia]]." * (1995) Telly in the movie ''[[Kids (movie)|Kids]]'' says "that's my triple nipple" after being asked about a mark on his body. * (1995) Fortune teller Miss Ivannah from the movie ''[[Mallrats]]'' (although this is a fake &ndash; after the protagonists leave her shop, she peels the fake third nipple from her breast and licks it.) * (1996) Dr. Noah Faulkner in the film ''[[Bio-Dome]]'' * (c. 1999) In an ''[[Ed, Edd and Eddy]]'' episode, Eddy gets the boys temporarily out of a potentially embarrassing 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. * (2000) In an episode of [[Family Guy]], [[Peter Griffin|Peter]] tries to convince a [[Make A Wish]]-type organization that his son [[Chris Griffin|Chris]] is dying by making multiple fake "nipples" made of pepperoni on his body. * (2002) Malcolm's classmate Dabne in the ''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]'' TV show, episode 314 ''[[Cynthia's Back]]'' (which aired [[February 17]] [[2002]]) Line: "I wonder if my third nipple can get me out of wrestling?" * (2002) Mrs. Selman from the [[Adam Sandler]]'s film ''[[Eight Crazy Nights]]'' has a third nipple and breast. * (2002) [[Johann van der Smut]], AKA Goldmember from the movie ''[[Austin Powers in Goldmember]]'' has a third nipple. * (c. 2003) Dr. [[Archie Morris]] from the ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'' TV show. * (2004) In an episode of [[The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy]], Billy says a list of what he has always wanted and one of the list items is a fourth nipple. * (2007) In [[Good Luck Chuck]] (starring [[Dane Cook]]) Stu's new girlfriend has a third breast * (2008) In [[It's a Wonderful Lie (House)|It's a Wonderful Lie]], episode 10 of the fourth season of the medical drama [[House]], a woman suffers complications due to breast cancer, despite having had a [[prophylactic]] double [[mastectomy]] - because she has an extra deposit of glandular tissue under her knee. * (2008) In January 2008 [[Channel 4]] broadcast a documentary called ''The Triple Nipple Club'' which followed director Dan Louw's attempts to understand why he was born with two extra nipples. The film explored popular culture, genetic theory and family history. It culminated with Louw meeting scientists at the [[Breakthrough Breast Cancer Centre]] who believe that they have cracked the genetic basis for supernumerary nipples. It also featured Louw trying to organise the first ever 'Triple Nipple Pride' event, which took place at the [[Skegness]] Carnival ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.uhseast.com/134138.cfm ''Healthwise'' "Accessory nipples (polythelia) and breast tissue (polymastia)"] at uhseast.com, accessed [[26 December]] [[2004]] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4202466.stm BBC: Cancer hope over breast gene find] at [[BBC]] *[http://www.infactah.com/2005/10/my-physical-deformity.html ''My physical deformity''] at infactah.com *[http://thesuperfluousnipple.blogspot.com ''The Superfluous Nipple''] news and information blog. *[http://www.channel4.com/video/first-cut-the-triple-nipple-club/series-1/episode-1/throwback_p_1.html] Documentary about extra nipples. ==See also== * [[Accessory breast]], a condition where an entire additional breast is present rather than simply an additional nipple {{Congenital malformations and deformations of integument}} [[Category:Integumentary system]] [[Category:Breast]] [[Category:Supernumerary body parts]] [[es:Politelia]] [[ja:副乳]] [[ru:Полителия]]