The spelling of the word "multimammae" is derived from Latin words "multi" meaning many and "mammae" meaning breasts. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced "ˌmʌltɪˈmæmi" indicating the stress on the second syllable and the pronunciation of the letter "a" as "æ". This term is used in biology, particularly in describing animals with multiple breasts or teats, such as dogs or livestock. Although it may seem like a complicated word, understanding its Latin roots can help in mastering its spelling and pronunciation.
Multimammae refers to the anatomical structure found in certain animals, particularly mammals, which possess multiple pairs of mammary glands. Derived from the Latin words "multi" meaning multiple and "mamma" meaning breast, multimammae literally translates to "multiple breasts".
These specialized glands, also known as teats or nipples, are responsible for the production and secretion of milk in female mammals. While most mammals typically possess a symmetrical arrangement of paired mammary glands, animals with multimammae display an increased number of these structures. The additional mammary glands can vary in number, location, and distribution across the body.
The specific evolutionary reason behind the development of multimammae varies amongst different animal species. One common explanation centers around the increased capacity for lactation, allowing for the nursing of larger litter sizes. This can be observed in marsupials such as kangaroos and possums, as well as certain rodents like rats and mice, which possess numerous pairs of mammary glands to cater to their larger litters.
Multimammae can also be a result of various genetic mutations, abnormalities, or congenital malformations, leading to animals having an excessive number of mammary glands. These atypical occurrences are usually seen in individual animals and are not typical of the species as a whole.
Overall, multimammae refers to the presence of multiple pairs of mammary glands in animals, particularly mammals, allowing for increased lactation and facilitating the nourishment of larger offspring or litter sizes.
Polymastia, a condition in which more than two mammary glands are present in the human.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "multimammae" originates from the Latin language. It is a compound word made up of two parts: "multi-" meaning "many" or "multiple", and "mammae" meaning "breasts" or "teats" in Latin. Therefore, "multimammae" refers to animals that have multiple or numerous mammary glands or nipples.