Teat


A teat is the projection from the mammary glands of mammals from which milk flows or is ejected for the purpose of feeding young. In many mammals the teat projects from the udder. The number of teats vary by mammalian species and often corresponds to the size of an average litter for that animal.
In some cases, the teats of female animals are milked for the purpose of human consumption.
The quality of some domesticated animals is determined by the establishment of desired characteristics, such as teat size and placement.

Number and positioning in animals

The number and positioning of mammary glands and teats varies widely among mammals. The protruding teats and accompanying glands can be located anywhere along the two milk lines. In general most mammals develop mammary glands in pairs along these lines, with a number approximating the number of young typically birthed at a time. The number of teats varies from 2 to 18. Marsupials usually have 4 to 12 teats, but the Virginia opossum has 13, one of the few mammals with an odd number. The following table lists the number and position of teats and glands found in a range of mammals:
SpeciesAnterior teats
Intermediate teats
Posterior teats
Total teats
Goat, sheep, horse
guinea pig		0022
Cattle0044
Cat2248
Dog422 or 48 or 10
Mouse60410
Rat62412
Pig66618
proboscideans, primates2002

Disease of teats

A number of diseases can affect the teats of cattle.
Goats are also affected by diseases of the teats.

Etymology

Teat is derived from the Old French or Dutch word, "tete" or the Greek word τιτθύς. An alternative, but possibly not unrelated, would be the Welsh word "teth" or the Old English, "titt" which is still used as a slang term.The words "teat" and "tit" share a Germanic ancestor. The second of the two, tit, was inherited directly from Proto-Germanic, while the first entered English via Old French.