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Linea nigra (Latin for "black line") or linea negra (altered by influence of Spanish negra) is a skin pigment condition during pregnancy where a brownish streak less than a centimeter in width develops. The line runs vertically along the midline of the abdomen from the pubis to the xiphoid process - the bottom-most part of the rib cage in the center or tip of the sternum.
It is caused by pregnancy hormones (elevated level of estrogen) that increase production of the pigment melanin. Fair-skinned women show this symptom less often than women with darker pigmentation. Before it appears it may be more faintly visible as a linea alba ("white line").
Linea nigra tends to appear around the second trimester and may or may not disappear within a few months after birth. Some research suggests there may be a link between linea nigra and insulin. Supplementing the diet with folic acid is said to reduce the discoloration.
There is an old wives' tale associated with linea nigra: if the linea nigra runs to the navel, it's a girl, and if it goes all the way up to the xiphoid, it's a boy.
sourece: wikipedia 
Source: Sadie Rose Bader-Gottlieb: Pregnancy - Sadie's first nine months Quote:
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Originally Posted by SUMAN-SAJAN Why is linea nigra prominent over linea alba , |
Its because of increase level of melanin due to elevated level of estrogen in the linea alba as for some unknown reason there is increased concentration of melanocyte in that area.
Thats what I know. If you get further update please let me know.
... kidding...i am sure by this time you might have discussed already with your department.
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