Linea nigra

Common card · No. 238826

Linea nigra (Latin for "black line"), colloquially known as the pregnancy line, manifests as a linear area of heightened pigmentation frequently observed on the abdominal region during pregnancy. Typically spanning approximately one centimeter (0.4 in) in width, this brownish streak extends vertically along the midline of the abdomen, spanning from the pubis to the umbilicus. Variably, it may traverse from the pubis to the upper abdominal region. For pregnant women, the emergence of linea nigra is attributed to an increased production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone by the placenta. This physiological phenomenon is concomitant with the occurrence of melasma and darkened nipples. Individuals with lighter skin pigmentation tend to exhibit this phenomenon less frequently in comparison to those possessing darker pigmentation. It is typical for the linea nigra to fade and dissipate within several months following childbirth. Although predominantly associated with pregnancy, it can manifest...

Read on Wikipedia · Image James Heilman, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0