Nipple – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

👁 What Does “Nipple” Mean?

The nipple is the small raised structure on the surface of the breast where milk ducts open.

The word comes from modern English, though its roots trace back to older Germanic forms referring to a “small projection.”

In medicine, the term is used in anatomy, breastfeeding assessments, endocrine evaluations, and breast-related examination findings.

It is always paired with nearby structures such as the areola, forming what is often called the nipple–areola complex.

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🔍 Clinical Usage

In clinical communication, nipple appears frequently in:

• Nursing notes (e.g., condition of skin, cracks, dryness)
• Breast examinations (checking for discharge, inversion, scaling, tenderness)
• Endocrine reviews (e.g., galactorrhea or hormonal changes)
• Post-surgical documentation (e.g., around the nipple–areola complex)

Healthcare professionals may describe findings using phrases such as:

• nipple discharge
• inverted nipple
• tender nipple
• nipple–areola complex (NAC)
• cracked nipple (especially in lactation assessments)

Here is one short example used in clinical notes:

Example:
“Small amount of serous nipple discharge noted on palpation.”

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🎥 Watch the Short Video

👉 Watch our 20-second clip: Nipple – Learn how to pronounce it and remember how it’s used in real medical English.

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