The Anatomical Record
A biomimetic ducted nipple reveals gestational age‐dependent deficits in suction generation in a neonatal pig model
Abstract All infant mammals must suckle in order to effectively acquire milk from a nipple. Yet, not all infants are able to do so. Preterm infants in particular face significant feeding challenges, often failing to establish successful breastfeeding due to complex neurophysiologic challenges. Unlike the cisternic structure of conventional commercial bottle nipples, often modeled after ruminant anatomy, human and porcine maternal nipples are ducted structures that require intraoral suction for milk release. To inve …