what is a nape

The nape is the back of the neck, where the back of the hair begins. It is also called the nucha in technical anatomical/medical terminology, and the corresponding adjective is nuchal. In many mammals, the nape bears a loose, non-sensitive area of skin known as the scruff, which is used by a mother to carry her young by her teeth, temporarily immobilizing it during transport. The nape of a womans neck held a strong attraction for many Japanese men in traditional Japanese culture. Slapping the nape is considered a gesture of utter humiliation in Egyptian and Lebanese culture.