Body Oddities Options

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Body Oddities

* Is it bad to crack your knuckles?
Cracking your knuckles is not as bad as people think. The usual argument is that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. This does not happen. Chronic knuckle cracking may cause other types of damage, including stretching of the surrounding ligaments and a decrease in grip strength, but not arthritis.

So what causes the pop? The sound is produced in the joint when bubbles burst in the synovial fluid surrounding the joint.


* Why do some people have an "outie" belly button and some have an "innie"?
Some people believe that you had an "innie" if the doctor tied a good knot, and if he didn't, you were cursed with an "outie". Well, there is no knot tying at all. They put on a clip, cut, and wait for the umbilical cord to dry up and fall off. It is all random.

Sometimes someone can develop an "outie" because they have a hernia in that area. If you have an "outie" and don't like it, there are plastic surgeons that can remove it for you.


* What causes morning breath?
Anaerobic bacteria, dry mouth, and the waste products produced by bacteria in your mouth. Medications, alcohol, sugar, smoking, caffeine, and dairy products are all major contributors to morning breath. Brushing regularly(including your tongue), flossing and drinking plenty of water can make morning breath a lot better.


* Why are yawns contagious?
There are several theories for what causes yawns and why they are contagious. It was originally thought that people yawned to get more oxygen, but this was later proven to not be true.

The most recent theory is that people are unconciously imitating others when they yawn. Humans are not the only species that yawn. Yawning is seen in many animals, including cats, fish, and birds.

I personally don't believe the "latest theory". Jeez, we can travel to the moon and clone sheep but no one knows why yawns are contagious.


* Why do men have nipples?
During development, the embryo follows a female template until about sex weeks, when the male sex chromosome kicks in for a male embryo. The embryo then begins to develop all of its male characteristics. Men are thus left with nipples and also with some breast tissue.Men can even get breast cancer and there are some medical conditions that can cause male breasts to enlarge. Abnormal enlargement of the breasts in a male is known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia can be caused by using anabolic steroids.


* Can you lose a contact lens in the back of your head?
It is common for people to come into an emergency room because they can't find their contact lens. Sometimes it is found folded and tucked beneath the eyelid, but other times it is nowhere to be found. So where is it??

Probably on the bathroom floor at home. A little anatomy lesson: there is nowhere else for it to go.

Other commonly "misplaced" items that lead people to the ER: tampons and condoms.


* Can you lose a tampon inside your body if the string comes off?
The vag1na is a potential space, not an endless hole inside the body. The walls of the vag1na are normally in contact with each other unless something is inserted between them. When something enters the vag1na, the body makes room for it. At the end of this potential space is the cervix. Therefore, there is no place for the tampon to go. It cannot be lost inside that small area and you should be able to remove it, or it can be easily removed by any doctor. Leaving a tampon inside too long can put you at risk for a serious infection, so don't be embarassed to ask for help.


* Is it true that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body relative to its size?
Some sources do agree that the tongue is the strongest muscle per size, but the tongue is actually made up of four muscles. The sartorius, which slants across the thigh to the knee, is the longest muscle in the body. As for the strongest, there are two other candidates, the masseter, used for chewing, and the gluteus maximus(your butt).


* Why do your teeth chatter when you are cold?
The body usually maintains a constant temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature the cells of the body work best. If there is any significant change in temperature, it is sensed by an area of the brain called the hypothalamus. When the body gets too cold, this center alerts the rest of the body to begin warming up. Shivering, the rapid movement of the muscles to generate heat, then begins. Teeth chattering represents localized shivering.


* Why do you have an appendix if you can live without it?
The appendix is a small pouch off the large intestine. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system for making antibodies.

Removing the appendix doesn't cause any harm because there are several other areas in the body that contain similar tissue-- the spleen, lymph nodes, and tonsils. The spleen and tonsils can also be removed.


* Are canker sores contagious?
Canker sores, medically known as recurrent apthous ulcers, are the most common oral disease and something that many of us have experienced. They differ from cold sores in several ways. Canker sores occur inside the mouth while cold sores show up on the lips. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and are definitely contagious. The etiology of canker sores is still unknown, although scientists have spent a great deal of time searching for the answer. Studies have suggested that this inflammatory disease is a result of abnormal immune response directed toward the oral membranes. Several bacteria and viruses have also been investigated as the culprit, but none has been found to be responsible.


* What are goose bumps?
There are tiny little hair erector muscles, called arrectores pilorum. They contract and raise the hair follicles above the skin. These are goose bumps or goose flesh or chicken skin. They start with a stimulus such as fear or cold. This causes the sympathetic nervous system to becoem activated. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's "fight or flight" response. This sends a message to the skin and activates those little muscles.


* What is really happening when my foot falls asleep?
When pressure is exerted on part of your leg or arm, several things occur. Arteries can become compressed, making them unable to provide the tissues and nerves with the oxygen and glucose they need to function properly. Nerve pathways can also become blocked, preventing normal transmission of the electrochemical impulses to the brain. Some of the nerves stop firing while others fire hyperactively. These signals are sent to the brain, where they are interpreted as burning, prickling, or tingling feelings. Shaking your foot releases the pressure and nutrient-rich blood flows back into the area and nerve cells start firing more regularly. The "pins and needles" feeling can intensify until the nerve cells recover. That is why it is painful when you try to "wake up" your sleeping limb.

Persistent numbness or tingling can be a sign of certain medical conditions, and in those cases you should see your doctor.


* Why do you get bags under your eyes when you are tired?
Lack of proper restful sleep seems to cause dark rings for reasons not properly understood. The skin around the eye is the thinnest found anywhere on the body, and this thin skin allows dark, venous blood to show through.

Dark rings around the eyes are a common problem. They appear to be genetic and can get worse as you age and your skin gets thinner. Adequate rest, good nutrition, and overall good health tend to make the circles less noticeable.


* Why do you laugh when tickled?
Laughter is a complex process that requires the coordination of many muscles throughout the body. Laughter also causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, breathing changes, reduced levels of certain neurochemicals, and a potential boost to the immune system. So, overall, it is very good for you.

Researchers have attempted to decipher the purpose of laughter and many believe that the reason for laughter is related to making and strengthening human connections, a kind of social signal. Studies have shown that people are thirty times more likely to laugh in social settings than when they are alone. Reports also suggest that the origins of laughter may predate human evolution.

Tickling-induced laughter is actually a reflex. Scientists don't fully understand how this works, but because you cannot tickle yourself, the reflex seems to require an element of surprise.


* Why does sweat stink and stain?
Have you ever used the expression "sweat like a pig"? Pigs don't sweat. Pigs don't have sweat glands, which explains why they have to wallow in mud to cool off.

As for us humans, we routinely sweat as a way of eliminating excess heat and maintaining a normal body temperature. The average person has 2.6 million sweat glands distributed over the entire body except for the lips, nipples, and external genitalia. There are two different types of sweat glands, eccrine and apocrine. These glands are different in size and produce different kinds of sweat. Eccrine glands are located all over the body. Apocrine glands are different because they are found mostly in the armpits and groin. They are larger and open into hair follicles. Though sweat is mostly water, it is the small amount of protein and fatty acids in the apocrine sweat glands that gives armpit sweat a milky or yellow color. It is also what causes it to stain.

Sweat itself is odorless whether it comes from the armpits or other areas of the body. The funk begins when sweat mixes with bacteria that occur naturally on the surface of the skin. This distinctive odor is called bromhidrosis.


* What is snot?
Phelgm, snot, spit, boogers, sputum-- all different varieties of the same thing. These terms are used to describe different forms of mucus, a slimy material that lines various membranes in the body (called mucus membranes). Mucus is composed chiefly of mucins(lubricating proteins) and inorganic salts suspended in water. Mucus aids in the protection of the lungs by trapping foreign particles that enter the nose during normal breathing. Mucus also makes swallowing easier and prevents stomach acid from harming your stomach wall.

As for the different varieties, phlegm is one type of mucus. By definition phlegm is limited to the mucus produced by the respiratory system, excluding that from the nasal passages(that is what we refer to as snot), and that which is expelled by coughing (sputum). In medieval medicine, phlegm was counted as one of the four bodily humors, possessing cold and wet properties. Phlegm was thought responsible for apathetic and sluggish behavior, which is how we get the word phlegmatic. Boogers are less historial, a slang word for dried nasal mucus or snot.

The presence of mucus in the nose and throat is normal. When you are sick the mucus can become thicker and change colors. Color is not a clear indication of a bacterial infection, but persistent rust-colored or green mucus tends to indicate a more serious condition.


* What are eye boogers?
While you sleep, a mixture of oil, sweat, and tears collects near the corners of your eyes. As the tears dry up you get left with a nice little bit of crust.


* What are those little half moons in your nails?
The pale half-moon shape at the base of each nail is called the lunule. It shows where the hardening process is not yet complete.

- Nails grow about 0.1 mm per day.
- Fingernails tend to grow a little faster than toenails.
- Toenails are approximately twice as thick as fingernails.
- Nails tend to grow faster in the summer than they do in the winter.
- Men's nails usually grow faster than women's nails.
- Nails on your dominant hand tend to grow faster.