Any parts of the body, etc. The most attractive parts of the body: what you need to pump up in the gym. Sex and procreation
The human body is an incredibly complex and intricate system that still baffles doctors and researchers, despite the fact that it has been studied for hundreds of years. Therefore, it is only natural that our body parts and normal bodily functions can surprise us. From sneezing to growing nails, here are 100 of the weirdest, wackiest, and most interesting facts about the human body.
Brain
The brain is the most complex and least studied human organ. There is a lot we don't know about him, but nevertheless, here are some facts about him.
1. Nerve impulses from and to the brain move at a speed of 270 km/h. Ever wondered how you can react so quickly to all sorts of things and why your finger immediately hurts as soon as you pinch it? This is all due to the incredibly high speed of movement of nerve impulses from all parts of the body to the brain and back. They provide responsiveness and move at the speed of an expensive sports car.
2. The brain requires as much energy to function as a 10-watt light bulb. The cartoon trick with a light bulb over your head is not so unreasonable. Your brain needs as much energy as a small light bulb - even when you're sleeping.
3. A human brain cell can store five times more information than any encyclopedia. Scientists have not agreed on the memory capacity of the human brain, but it can hold somewhere between three and a thousand terabytes of information. For example, the National Archives of Britain, with its 900-year history, occupies only 70 terabytes, so evaluate your brain reserves!
4. The brain uses 20% of all oxygen that enters the circulatory system. The brain occupies only 2% of body weight, but consumes more oxygen than any other organ - so it is dramatically affected by the lack of oxygen. So breathe deeply!
5. The brain is much more active at night than during the day. It would be logical to assume the opposite: after all, during the day we perform various actions, think, communicate - and this requires more energy than simply lying in bed. But it turns out that everything is completely different. When you switch off, your brain switches on. Scientists have not yet figured out why this happens, but in any case, thanks to the brain for interesting dreams!
6. Scientists say that the higher the IQ level, the more often people dream. That may be true, but don't think you're stupid if you can't remember your dreams. Most people do not remember what they dream, and the average length of a dream is only 2-3 seconds - quite enough to understand that you are seeing something.
7. Neurons continue to grow throughout a person's life. For many years, scientists and doctors thought that the brain and nerve cells could not grow and regenerate. Of course, they do this not as intensively as other tissues, but they grow throughout life, adding new and new areas for studying the brain and the diseases affecting it.
8. Information passes through different neurons at different speeds. Not all neutrons are the same. There are several types of nerve cells, and the speed at which information passes through them ranges from half a meter to almost one hundred and twenty meters per second.
9. The brain itself does not feel pain. Without a brain you won’t feel pain: if you cut your finger, the brain will give you a signal that something is wrong with it, and you will feel pain. But the brain itself does not hurt. The head can hurt: there are a lot of blood vessels and nerves that cause pain.
10. 80% of the brain consists of water. The brain is not a solid gray mass like they show on TV. Living brain tissue is soft, pink, and jelly-like due to blood flow and the tissue's high fluid content. So the next time you want to drink, don’t put it off for too long: your brain suffers!
Hair and nails
In fact, these are not living organs, but remember how your friends worry about their nails and hair, how much money they spend on caring for them! On occasion, you can tell your lady a couple of these facts: she will probably appreciate it.
11. Hair grows faster on your face than anywhere else. You probably guessed this when you shaved in the morning, and in the evening you were already covered with stubble. If a man had not shaved, his beard would have grown up to seven and a half meters in his lifetime! But this is too much, don’t you agree? After all, you can grow more.
12. Every day a person loses an average of 60 to 100 hairs. Unless, of course, he is already completely bald or is in the process of going bald - then, of course, he will lose even more hair. The amount of hair falling out depends on the season, health, diet, age, and for friends, also on pregnancy.
13. The diameter of women's hair is half that of men's. This will seem strange, but quite logical: men's hair is thicker than women's. Hair thickness also depends on race.
14. Human hair can bear 100g weight. This, by the way, is half a glass of something! And if the hair is all together, then somehow you even believe in Rapunzel’s story.
15. The nail on the middle finger grows faster than the others. And the nail on the middle finger of the dominant hand is generally a champion in terms of growth rate. We don’t fully know why, but the speed of nail growth is somehow related to the length of the finger, so nails grow fastest on long fingers, and slowest on short fingers.
16. There is as much hair on a square centimeter of your body as there is on a square centimeter of a chimpanzee's body. We're not as hairless as we think! We have a lot of hair, but most of it is too fine for us to see.
17. Blondes have more hair. Hair color determines its density on the head. The average person has 100,000 hair follicles, each of which can grow 20 hairs in a lifetime. Blondes have 146,000 hair follicles, and brunettes have about 110,000. Brown-haired and fair-haired people have just the average number - 100,000, and redheads have about 86,000.
18. Fingernails grow about 4 times faster than toenails. You've probably noticed that you trim your fingernails more often, so it's all logical. They are used more often, the fingers are longer - this is the result. On average, nails grow by 2.5 mm per month.
19. The average lifespan of human hair is 3-7 years. And although you lose a lot of hair every day, it lives a long time. They managed to go through different haircuts and modifications - and some even had different colors!
20. You have to be at least half bald for it to be noticeable. You're losing hundreds of hairs every day, and you'll have to lose a lot more before someone notices. And this will not happen before your hair has halved.
21. Human hair is practically indestructible. Yes, they burn well, but they are generally difficult to destroy. Have you ever wondered what is clogging your pipes? Hair is resistant to cold, climate change, water and other natural forces, and it is resistant to many types of acids and caustic chemicals.
Internal organs
We don’t remember the internal organs until they bother us, but it is thanks to them that we can eat, breathe, walk and all that stuff. Remember this the next time your stomach growls.
22. The largest internal organ is the small intestine. Despite the fact that it is modestly called thin, it is really large: its length is four times the average human height. If it had not been twisted so cleverly, it would not have fit into the abdominal cavity.
23. The human heart creates pressure that is enough for blood to spray seven and a half meters forward. Therefore, it is understandable why it is so easy to feel the heartbeat. In order for blood to move quickly throughout the body, great pressure is necessary, which arises as a result of strong contractions of the walls of the ventricles pushing the blood.
24. The acid in your stomach can dissolve razor blades. You should not check this and eat blades or other metal objects, but know: the concentration of this acid is not weak! The hydrochloric acid in your stomach can digest not only pizza, but also metal.
25. The length of all blood vessels in the human body is about 96,000 km. For comparison: the length of the equator is 40,000 km, so your blood vessels are enough to wrap them around the Earth twice - and still have some left.
26. Your stomach is completely renewed every 3-4 days. The muscular walls of the stomach would quickly be dissolved by the same hydrochloric acid if they did not regenerate so quickly. Guys with heartburn know how unpleasant it is when you feel the effects of acid.
27. The surface area of a person’s lungs is equal to the area of a tennis court. In order for oxygen to flow into the blood more efficiently, the lungs are filled with thousands of branches of the bronchi and tiny alveoli, shaped like bunches of grapes. They are filled with microscopic capillaries through which oxygen and carbon dioxide move. A large area speeds up and facilitates this exchange.
28. A woman’s heart beats faster than a man’s. The reason is that, on average, women are smaller than men, and the blood must be dispersed over a smaller area. And in general, the hearts of men and women work differently - for example, treatment regimens for heart attacks that work for men are ineffective in cases with women.
29. Scientists say that the liver has more than 500 functions. You never think about your liver - except on a hangover morning, and by the way, it is one of the largest, busiest organs that works a lot. Some functions of the liver are: production of bile, breakdown of red blood cells and detoxification.
30. The aorta has a diameter almost equal to the diameter of a garden hose. The human heart is on average the size of two fists, so the size of the aorta is also impressive. It is so large because it is the main conductor of blood throughout the body.
31. The left lung is smaller than the right - so that there is room for the heart. When most people draw their lungs, they make them roughly the same size. They are approximately the same size, but the fact is that the heart is slightly shifted to the left relative to the middle, and therefore the left lung has to make room.
32. You can remove most of the internal organs and move on with your life. The human body seems fragile, but it is possible to live even without a stomach, spleen, 75% of the liver, 80% of the intestines, one kidney, one lung and almost every organ located in the pelvic and groin cavity. Of course, you're unlikely to be like a cucumber, but it won't kill you.
33. The adrenal glands change size throughout human life. They are located directly above the kidneys, as you understand from the name, and are responsible for the production of stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline. In the seventh month of fetal development, they are the same size as the kidneys. At birth, the glands contract and continue to do so throughout life. By the time you reach old age, they will become barely noticeable.
Organism's functions
We don't really like to talk about them, but we have to deal with them every day. Here are some facts about the not so pleasant things that concern our body.
34. The speed of a sneeze is 160 km/h. That's why you can't keep your eyes open when you sneeze: the air rushes out of your nose at great speed! So it makes sense to cover up.
35. The speed of coughing can even reach 900 km/h. The infection spreads throughout the office or classroom - wow, crap! After all this, flu epidemics are not at all surprising.
36. Women blink twice as often as men. Every day you blink many times. On average - 13 times per minute.
37. A full bladder is the size of a softball. No wonder you have to run to the toilet when you feel this wild call of nature! The bladder holds from 400 to 800 ml of liquid, but most people begin to want to go to the toilet when it contains somewhere around 250-300 ml.
38. Approximately 75% of human waste products consist of water. Rejoice in this! The drier the stool, the more painful the process of getting rid of it is.
39. There are approximately 500,000 sweat glands on the legs, they can produce up to a liter of sweat per day! Now it’s clear why these shoes stink so much. Men also sweat much more actively than women.
40. Over the course of a lifetime, a person produces so much saliva that it can fill a couple of swimming pools. Saliva plays an important role in the digestion process and keeps the mouth clean.
41. The average person passes gas 14 times a day. Even if you think you're too good for it, the reality is: you fart several times a day. Digestion causes the body to release gases, there is no escape from this.
42. Earwax is essential for healthy ears. Many people think that it is disgusting, but in fact it is an important thing for the health of your ears. It protects the sensitive inner ear from bacteria, dirt and even insects. It also lubricates and cleans the ear canal.
Sex and procreation
Sex is a largely taboo but very important part of human life and relationships. Continuation of the family line is no less important. There are probably a few things you didn't know about them.
43. Every single day, 120 million sexual acts occur in the world. 4% of the world's population has sex daily, and birth rates around the world continue to rise.
44. The largest human cell is the egg, and the smallest is the sperm. You can't see skin cells or muscle cells, but the egg is large enough to be seen with the naked eye: its diameter is about a millimeter. On the contrary, male sperm are tiny.
45. During the first trimester of pregnancy, women most often see frogs, worms and plants in their dreams. Hormones during pregnancy can cause mood swings and all sorts of other unexpected things. They can even influence dreams! And many women during pregnancy see water, childbirth and erotic scenes in their dreams.
46. Your teeth begin to grow six months before you are born. Rarely are babies born with teeth, but teeth nonetheless begin to grow under the gums while still inside the womb.
47. Almost all children are born with blue eyes. Eye color depends on your parents' genes, but most children are born with blue eyes. It's all about the pigment melanin. The melanin in a newborn's eyes often takes time to either fade when exposed to light or develop to reveal the baby's true eye color.
48. Children are strong, like bulls. Of course, they cannot pull a cart, but if they were the size of an ox, they probably could. They are very strong for their tiny size. So be careful: they are kicking!
49. One in 2,000 children is born with a tooth. Sometimes this is a normal baby tooth, which will remain with the child until it is replaced by a molar, and sometimes it is an extra tooth that will soon fall out.
50. The fetus acquires fingerprints at the age of three months. Even in the early stages of development, fetuses develop one of the most unique human traits - fingerprints. At 6-13 weeks of development, they already take on clear outlines. Oddly enough, these imprints will not change throughout life and will be one of the last things to disappear after death.
51. Each person was a single cell for half an hour of his life. Even the largest of us were once a single cell - a zygote, a fertilized egg. Soon she began to divide and develop into an embryo.
52. Most men have an erection every hour and every hour and a half during sleep.: After all, the brain is much more active at night. Blood circulation and testosterone cause erections during sleep, a normal part of REM sleep.
Feelings
We perceive the world through our senses. Here are interesting facts about them.
53. After a hearty lunch, we hear worse. If you're going to a concert after a nice dinner, you're doing yourself a disservice. Eat less to hear better.
54. Only one third of all people have one hundred percent vision. The remaining two-thirds wear glasses and contact lenses—or should. There are fewer and fewer people with good eyesight.
55. If saliva cannot dissolve something, you will not feel the taste. To feel the taste of food or whatever you decide to try, saliva must dissolve it. If you don't believe me, try drying your tongue before tasting something.
56. From birth, women have a better developed sense of smell than men. Studies have shown that women smell better than men. They are better at identifying citrus, vanilla, cinnamon and coffee aromas. And another 2% of people cannot smell. At all.
57. The nose remembers 50,000 different aromas. A bloodhound's nose may be a million times more sensitive than a human's, but that doesn't mean the human sense of smell is no good. People can identify a wide range of scents, many of which are associated with their memories.
58. Pupils dilate even due to slight interference. It is believed that this is why surgeons, watchmakers and other people doing delicate work cannot stand the noise. The sound causes their pupils to change focus, causing them to see less clearly, which makes them less able to do their job.
59. All people have their own unique smell - with the exception of identical twins. Newborns recognize their mother by smell, and many of us know the smells of our loved ones. This smell is partly determined genetically, but it also depends on the environment, diet, hygiene products, etc.
Aging and death
We age throughout our lives - that’s how it works.
60. The mass of the ashes of a cremated person can reach 4 kg. The fact is that the body contains a lot of water. And when the body burns, the water evaporates and dry matter remains.
61. Hair and nails grow after death. They appear longer when a person dies because the skin becomes dehydrated and the base of the nail and hair roots recede.
62. By the age of sixty, most people have lost about half of their taste buds. Maybe you shouldn't trust your grandmother to cook so much? Older people have a worse sense of taste - so they may over-salt, add more sugar, etc.
63. Your eyes are the same size all your life, but your nose and ears grow throughout your life. Children look at you with huge eyes - but they only seem huge: their size will never change. But the ears and nose will grow and grow!
64. At 60 years old, 60% of men and 40% of women will snore. If you've ever heard snoring, you know how loud it can be. Normal snoring is approximately 60 decibels, at the level of normal speech. And intense snoring reaches 80 decibels - it's like a jackhammer hitting concrete.
65. A child’s head is a quarter of his height, and by the age of 25, the length of the head is only an eighth of the entire length of the body. The head changes size in different proportions than the body. The legs and torso are still growing, but the head is no longer there.
Diseases and injuries
We all get sick and injured. And this is also quite interesting!
66. Most often, a heart attack occurs on Monday. Monday is a hard day, a very bad day! A ten-year study in Scotland found that heart attacks are 20% more likely to occur on Mondays. Scientists believe that there is a combo of a too fun weekend and a too harsh start to the week.
67. People can go much longer without food than without sleep. It's much more pleasant for you to have fun all night than not to eat, but this feeling is deceptive. If a person has enough water, he can live for a month and in some cases even two without food, maintaining strength with the fat accumulated in the body. Without sleep, people experience psychological changes - and this is after just a few days without sleep. The longest period of wakefulness is 11 days. The person who set this record started talking during the experiment, saw hallucinations and forgot what he was doing.
68. When you burn in the sun, it damages your blood vessels. They return to normal within 4-5 months. Remember this the next time you are too lazy to put sunscreen on your face.
69. 90% of illnesses are due to stress. Your nervous work can cost you your health, slowly killing you day after day. It can also cause depression, high blood pressure and heart disease.
70. A human head remains conscious for 15-20 seconds after it is cut off. It's an amazing fact how strong the brain is to be able to stay alive without the rest of the body! Although the duration of this consciousness varies, judging by the stories of eyewitnesses.
Muscles and bones
Muscles and bones are the frame of our body, thanks to them we move and even just lie.
71. You tense 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown. If you don't want to strain your face, smile. Anyone who often walks around with a sour expression for a long time knows how hard it is.
72. Children are born with 300 bones, but adults have only 206. The reason is that many of the children's bones must subsequently fuse together - for example, some of the bones of the skull. Why don't they do this in the womb? This makes it easier for him to pass through the birth canal. Bones heal as children grow.
73. In the morning we are a centimeter higher than in the evening. The cartilage between our bones contracts as we stand, sit and walk, causing us to shrink slightly each day.
74. The strongest muscle of the human body is the tongue. Of course, this cannot be verified, but it is true. Remember this when you eat. During the day, your tongue tenses more than any other muscle.
75. The heaviest bone in the human body is the jaw. Unexpected, right?
76. To take a step, you use 200 muscles. This is a big load: on average a person takes 10,000 steps per day.
77. The tooth is the only organ that is not capable of regeneration. So go to the dentist, it won't heal on its own.
78. Muscles deflate twice as fast as they inflate. But this is not a reason not to train! Building muscle is relatively easy, so this should motivate you.
79. Some bones are stronger than steel. This doesn't mean bones don't break: they do. The steel is just heavier. And so, bone is a durable thing.
80. The feet contain a quarter of all the bones of the human body. Of the two hundred and six bones of the human body, 52 are located in the legs.
At the cellular level
There are things that you cannot see with the naked eye.
81. There are 16,000 bacteria per square centimeter of your body. But most of them are completely harmless, don't worry.
82. Every 27 days you literally change your skin. The skin protects sensitive internal organs from the outside world, and this is not an easy task. So it dries and peels off about once a month to maintain its strength. Chances are, the skin of your last month is still in your home: dust on your bookshelves and under the couch.
83. Every minute 3,000,000 cells die in the human body. It sounds like it's a lot, but in reality it's absolutely not. In general, there are about 10-50 trillion cells in the body, so you can afford such losses.
84. Humans lose about 600,000 pieces of skin every hour. Don't think about it unless you're sunburned. New cells immediately replace the old ones.
85. Every day, the adult human body produces 300 billion new cells. Your body needs energy to keep the organs functioning and functioning in the right condition, to repair holes and stuff like that.
86. All tongue prints are unique. If you're planning to commit a crime, don't touch anything with your tongue!
87. There is enough iron in your body to make a 6cm nail. Anyone who has tasted blood knows that it smells of iron. Here it is! And when there is too little of it, anemia develops.
88. The most common blood type in the world is first. It is very useful because it can be transfused to people with a different blood type. The rarest blood group is fourth.
89. Lips are red because there are many capillaries under them. Blood flows through them, and the blood is red. Therefore, in patients with anemia, the lips turn pale, and after swimming in cold water they turn blue.
Miscellaneous
A couple more interesting facts
90. The colder the room where you sleep, the higher the likelihood that you will have a nightmare. If you want to have more pleasant dreams, cover yourself better.
91. Tears and mucus contain the enzyme lysozyme, which destroys the cell walls of many bacteria. This is in your best interest: mucus in the nose and throat, as well as tears, prevent illness.
92. In half an hour, your body releases as much energy as it takes to boil one and a half liters of water. So the energy we expend just to maintain a constant body temperature is enough to cook pasta.
93. Your ears produce more earwax when you are afraid. The chemicals and hormones that rise during fear have this strange effect.
94. You can't tickle yourself. The brain just knows what you are going to do.
95. The distance between your arms outstretched to the sides is your height. Not to the last millimeter, of course, but approximately.
96. Man is the only animal that cries because of emotions. We are the greatest crybabies in the entire animal kingdom.
97. Right-handers live on average nine years longer than left-handers. This is not based on genetics, the fact is that all machines and tools are made for right-handed people, so working with them is more dangerous for left-handed people.
98. Women burn fat slower than men - by about 50 calories per day. It’s just that women are naturally destined to bear children, so they should have more fat in their bodies. And that’s why it’s harder for them to lose weight.
99. Koalas and primates are the only animals with unique fingerprints.
100. The pit between the nose and lip has a name. Nasal philtrum. It is not clear why this is needed, but the ancient Greeks even thought that this was one of the most sensitive erogenous zones on the entire body.
Heads, shoulders, knees and... lacrimal caruncle?
We are used to thinking that we know everything or almost everything about ourselves. But in the human body there are a huge number of body parts whose names we don’t even know. And now you have the opportunity for the first time to call a spade a spade and get to know the nameless parts of yourself.
Additionally, you will be able to impress people with your amazing knowledge of anatomy and physiology. And from now on it will be much easier for you to communicate with doctors (believe me, they also like to call things by their proper names).
Body part called glabella
Many people would do well to thin it out
Well hello, dear reader - meet Glabella! This is the place above the bridge of the nose and between the eyebrows. Its name comes from the Latin “glabellus,” which means “hairless,” but even the most beautiful people on the planet can have problems with hair in this part of the body. But wait... If Frida Kahlo can sport a unibrow and still become one of the world's greatest artists, then why should mere mortals care about some glabella hairiness? Perhaps you just need to invest in some good tweezers - and the problem is solved.
By the way, the glabella can be useful: if you pinch the skin on it with your fingers and it does not smooth out, this is a sign of dehydration. This simple test could one day save your life.
Filtrum
An angel's fingerprint or just a cleavage?
The small hollow under the nose is the “filtrum,” or philtrum. In fairy tales, this is the place of the touch of an angel, erasing memories of a past life.
In mammals like dogs, the philtrum helps keep the nose moist, which contributes greatly to any canine's amazing olfactory abilities.
In humans, the philtrum has ceased to perform practical functions, however, it can also help in diagnosing diseases: contracted walls of the philtrum may indicate alcoholism or Prader-Willi syndrome. A wide philtrum is associated with Down syndrome (most often in boys).
Human nostrils
A nostril made up of nostrils - the world will never be the same
Let's focus on the nose area. Essentially, each of your nostrils is made up of many small nostrils. The nasal septum, which “cool” young people love to pierce, has its own wings, which are called “columella nasi”. Now you know everything about your nose.
Hallux
It sounds proud, but it means something that causes pain in the night.
You still call this body part your big toe. Sounds somewhat ordinary, don’t you think? But they could proudly call him “Hallux”, like some ancient Greek god!
Most likely, you do not remember its existence until the moment you hit a piece of furniture, however, it is it that helps you maintain your balance and vertical position. The absence of a thumb is a valid reason for refusing to serve the Motherland (this is why many “craftsmen” shoot themselves in the feet).
Morton's finger
Even the Statue of Liberty has it. And you?
Continuing the topic of leg mysteries, let's talk about what many people experience.
Morton's toe is a physiological feature in which the index toe is longer than the big toe. This does not cause any harm to health (not counting problems with choosing shoes). However, in Ancient Greece such a finger was considered the standard of beauty, and even the Statue of Liberty was created with such a “defect.”
Fistful (Gowpen)
An unknown Scandinavian word, knowledge of which will be useful
Oddly enough, there is not even a hint of a similar word in the Russian language. If you believe the encyclopedias, it reads “geupen”. In fact, this word does not denote a part of the body as such, but denotes the function of carrying something in the folded palms in such a way that they turn into a container (the closest translation is “cupping the hands” or “handful”).
The etymology of the word itself goes back to the Old Norse gaupn, which means "a hollow made of hands joined together to form the shape of a bowl." After all, the Vikings thought creatively.
Anatomical snuff box
All literary heroes took snuff from her
It sounds like something from the sexual sphere, but it is far from true. The snuffbox is the natural indentation on the outside of the hand, between the thumb and index finger.
This part of the body got its name due to the fact that it was convenient to sniff tobacco from it. A very pragmatic attitude towards your body.
Frenum
Bridle and bridle are different
A simple bridle, but how beautiful it sounds! In fact, there are many frenulums on the human body. It is connective tissue that helps moving parts move in a given area. For example, holding the tongue or upper lip.
As you know, men have another frenulum - on the penis. Because of it, problems may arise during sexual intercourse. In addition, this place is popular for piercings. Therefore, you should not Google the word “bridle” at work if you do not want questions from colleagues or superiors.
Tragus
An obscure part of the body, but more interesting with it
Tragus is a small triangular cartilage on the outer ear. It can be used to close the ear canal by applying pressure.
Like the frenulum, this body part is popular for piercing, but its natural function is still unknown. Perhaps it serves to detect the source of the sound.
Lanula
A beautiful name for a tender part of the body
The white crescents at the base of the nail are the “lanula.” As one might expect, they got their name from the Latin “lun”, which translates as “moon”. Essentially, this is a second nail under the first, and a very sensitive one at that. Any injury to the lanula entails lifelong deformation of the nail, so it should be protected like the apple of your eye.
Dimples of Venus
So tasty for many cavities
The dimples of Venus, or simply the dimples on the back, have long been considered a symbol of sexuality and female beauty, so it is not surprising that they were named after the Roman goddess of beauty.
There is a common misconception that people with Venus dimples are more sensual, passionate and reach orgasm faster. There is no scientific evidence for this version.
The bad news for those who want to get these cleavages: they can't be created through diet and exercise. Only genetics and nothing more.
Cantus
A mysterious place with its own name
The canthus is the name given to the outer corner of the palpebral fissure, where the upper and lower eyelids touch. The reason this place needs a name is a mystery shrouded in darkness.
Lacrimal caruncle (Lacrimal curuncle)
Perhaps the strangest part of the body
Everyone wondered what that ball of flesh was in the inner corner of the eye. And this is exactly it - the tearful caruncle. Thanks to him, we cry, or rather, we bring our tears out. Scientists note that the caruncle is a rudimentary part of the so-called “third eyelid” (which can even be found in cats - try looking into their eyes while sleeping). For some unknown reason, the human body has abandoned them, although most mammals still boast additional eye protection.
Supersternal groove
Another non-sexual, but erotic body part
Like the dimples of Venus, the supersternal groove is a completely non-sexual part of the body, but is considered one.
If we move away from the topic of sex, this part of the body is an excellent point to strike when defending against an attack. Which side you look at is up to you.
Axilla
Common armpit
The axilla, or simply the “armpit,” is an important part of any person’s body, no matter how much we sometimes want to get rid of it. Sprays, shaving, even removing sweat glands - this is what many people do to get rid of the smell of sweat. Meanwhile, it is the glands located in the axillas that transmit information about their owner to the olfactory receptors of potential sexual partners.
Gynecomastia
Not only women have...breasts
The male breast is a very peculiar part of the body. And in many representatives of the stronger sex they turn not into steel plates of the torso, but into the semblance of female mammary glands. This is possible in adolescence, during the period of hormonal changes. Moreover, in adulthood, gynecomastia is also possible - it is observed in bodybuilders who take steroids for too long. The deviation may go away on its own, but most often surgical intervention is necessary.
Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi muscle
Elvis left this world, but his smile remained
The favorite muscle of the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, has received the status of the muscle with the longest name. She is responsible for your ability to be ironic and smile sarcasticly. Its use would be great for Draco Malfoy to show his hostility at a Muggle party.
The name of this muscle is translated as “lift of both edges of the lip and wing of the nose.” Given that the “sarcastic muscle” is located on both sides of the mouth, most people can demonstrate irony with only one part of it.
There are still a lot of names in the human body that can make an ordinary person feel ill. However, with this set you can already pass for an expert in the field of human nature, so keep it for yourself - you won’t regret it.
Frown brow
The appearance of folds on the forehead in response to a certain stimulus can be considered a reliable indicator that there are some questions or problems, or that the person is feeling insecure. A furrowed brow is usually associated with doubt, tension, anxiety, and concern. Keep in mind that many people now use Botox for cosmetic purposes, and it prevents the appearance of wrinkles on the forehead and thus can mask a person's true feelings.
Pulsation of veins in the temples
In stressful situations, the superficial temporal veins (located closest to the skin on the temporal areas of the head just behind the eyes) may pulsate noticeably. This is a very accurate indicator of autonomic nervous system arousal caused by anxiety, concern, fear, anger or, in some cases, joyful excitement. This automatically switches the brain into survival mode in anticipation of intense physical activity, such as flight or fight, and causes the heart and lungs to pump faster.
Rubbing forehead
We start massaging our forehead when we have a headache, when we are processing information, or when something bothers us or raises doubts. This is a form of calming behavior that helps relieve stress and...
Brows
Eyebrow greeting
We raise our eyebrows at the sight of a familiar person if we cannot say hello to him at the moment or to show someone that we have noticed his presence. Depending on the circumstances, raised eyebrows may be combined with a smile. This is a sign of attention, and its absence is immediately noticeable, for example when we enter a store and the employee does not bother with the slightest attempt to establish eye contact. One movement of your eyebrows is enough to show a person that you appreciate his presence, even if you are busy at the moment.
Eyebrow asymmetry
This facial gesture is used when there is doubt or uncertainty. One eyebrow creeps up, while the other remains in place or falls below its normal position. Asymmetry signals a person's distrust of what he is being told. Jack Nicholson often does this in movies and in life, expressing his feelings.
The part of the face between the eyes and just above the nose is called the glabella, and if it narrows or wrinkles, the most likely cause may be dissatisfaction or concern. This expression appears in a matter of seconds and is not always noticeable, but it accurately conveys emotion. It happens that, listening to something unpleasant or trying to comprehend what he heard, a person frowns so much that his eyebrows converge into one line. In written communication, this emotion is often represented by a ">"<».
Eyes
Dilated pupils
When we feel comfortable or like the person or object in front of us, our pupils dilate. This reaction cannot be controlled. Lovers enjoying each other's company also have dilated pupils as their eyes try to absorb as much light as possible. This is why dimly lit restaurants are a good choice: low-lighting naturally softens the gaze and makes the pupils larger, an effect that helps us relax even more around another person.
Constricted pupils
The pupils constrict if we don’t like what we see or experience negative emotions. In light-colored eyes, constricted pupils are more visible than in dark-colored eyes. If a person's pupils suddenly shrink to the size of pinpoints, it means that some very unpleasant event has just happened. It is curious that in stressful situations the brain tries to focus vision as much as possible - after all, the smaller the aperture, the clearer the image. This is why we squint when we want to see something better.
Relaxed eye muscles
A calm, relaxed look indicates a state of comfort and confidence. When nothing bothers us, the muscles around the eyes, in the area of the forehead and cheeks relax, but when the slightest reason for irritation or concern appears, they immediately tense up. This metamorphosis is especially noticeable in children: the baby suddenly wrinkles his entire face and begins to cry loudly.
Nostril flaring
We usually flare our nostrils (the sides of our nose) when preparing for any physical activity. If a person is upset about something, feels the urge to jump up and run away, or is about to commit some kind of aggressive action, he flares his nostrils to saturate the body with oxygen. For police, this is a sign of readiness to escape. In an interpersonal communication situation, such a facial gesture may indicate that the person needs to be given time to calm down and pull himself together.
Lips
Full lips
Lips change shape and size depending on your emotional state. They contract when we are tense; relax and become fuller when we are comfortable. Full, soft lips indicate relaxation and contentment. In this state, blood drains from the lips and rushes to other parts of the body where it is most needed. Lip fullness can serve as a barometer of a person's emotional state.
Licking lips
Rubbing your tongue against your lips calms us just as much as biting them. Typically, this behavior is associated with anxiety, worry, or negative emotions; however, the problem may only be dry lips, so do not make hasty conclusions. In some cases, this facial gesture is a sure sign of a stressful state. As a teacher, I often see it on exams for poorly prepared students.
Pursed lips
During the day, when we are overcome by minor or major troubles, annoying thoughts and anxieties, our lips narrow and compress in unison with our inner experiences. Sometimes barely noticeable, sometimes so strong that they turn white due to blocked blood flow. Even if this movement is fleeting (occupies a twentieth of a second), it still very accurately conveys the sudden appearance.
Chin
Chin high
A raised and forward chin is a sign of confidence. In some European countries (particularly Germany, France, Russia and Italy), raising the chin higher than usual expresses pride, and in some cases, arrogance.
If a person suddenly lowers their chin in response to a question, they likely lack self-confidence or feel threatened. Such a facial gesture can be very expressive and unambiguous: some people’s chin literally falls down when they hear bad news or think about something painful or bad.
Hidden chin
Typically, children use this nonverbal signal to hide embarrassment or demonstrate dissatisfaction or disappointment. They press their chin to their neck and refuse to raise their head, sometimes even crossing their arms over their chest. Adult men do this too when they stand angry face to face with an opponent, and sometimes they also shout at each other. In this case, the chin is intended to protect the neck in the event of a rash.
Neck
Covering the jugular fossa
Touching the jugular fossa (the depression at the point where the collarbones meet, under the Adam's apple, just above the sternum) or the desire to cover it with your hand indicates anxiety, dissatisfaction, anxiety, uncertainty or fear. Men tend to grab their throat or cover their jugular cavity with their entire palm while adjusting the knot of their tie or shirt collar. Women perform this movement more often, but more gracefully than men - only with their fingertips.
The need to cover the most vulnerable place on the body is a sign that something is wrong. Most likely, this element of nonverbal behavior was formed in the process of evolution as a result of numerous clashes of our ancestors with predators that aimed specifically at the neck. This is discussed in more detail in my book I See What You're Thinking.
Fiddling with shirt collar
A person adjusts or fiddles with his shirt collar in the throat area to calm down or. The calming effect is created by a combination of three factors: the vulnerable spot is protected, the tactile stimulus is repeated, and the skin under the shirt is “ventilated.”
Vagus nerve massage
The vagus nerve connects the brain with the most important internal organs, including the heart. When under stress, people massage the side of their neck, near where we usually check our pulse. There is a reason for this: stimulating the vagus nerve leads to the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that sends a signal to the heart, in particular the atrioventricular node, thereby reducing the heart rate.
Shoulders
One shoulder shrug
If a person raises one shoulder to his ear when answering a question, most likely he is in doubt or feels in danger. In combination with other nonverbal signals (hesitating to answer, pressing his hands closer to his body), this is a sign of insufficient confidence in his words. When a question like “What price are you willing to offer?” is asked in negotiations? and the representative of the responding party shrugs one shoulder, which means it’s possible. A raised shoulder when answering implies some doubt in your own words.
If a person slowly raises one shoulder, tilts his head towards it and looks directly into the eyes of the interlocutor, then he is demonstrating personal interest. Most often, this gesture can be observed on dates, and it is usually characteristic of women.
Short shrug
When a person hears a question and does not know the answer, he raises both shoulders up with a quick and expressive movement. A short upward movement is one of the forms of behavior that contradicts the law of universal gravitation, and they are usually associated with positive emotions: in this case, the person does not hide his ignorance and is not at all embarrassed by it. This gesture is more sincere than a slow shrug (combined with an “I don’t know”) or a hesitant shrug of just one shoulder.
Hands
Vigorous gestures
It reflects our emotions and attracts attention to us. Broad ones enhance the impact of our words and make communication more dynamic. Many cultures use exaggerated gestures to make accents. To an outside observer, a person waving his arms vigorously may seem like he is about to jump into a fight, when in fact he is only trying to communicate more expressively.
Hands behind your back
Royal pose - hands behind your back. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and other members of the British royal family stand and walk this way when they want to maintain distance between themselves and other people. Everyone else - mere mortals - in the same way subconsciously makes it clear that they need more personal space. This is not the best way to get closer to a person, since this gesture is usually associated with detachment. Interestingly, young children do not like it when their parents hide their hands behind their backs.
Freezing hands
A sudden freezing of the hands may be a reaction to fear or a strong impression of what happened. They hang motionless along the body, making the person look like a robot. Frozen hands are a clear sign that a person has just experienced a negative event.
Torso and belly
Rubbing the collarbone
In a state of stress, a person begins to rub the collarbone with the opposite hand (for example, placing the right hand on the left collarbone). A hand crossing the chest diagonally gives a feeling of security, and repeated touches to the collarbone have a calming effect. This area of the body is very sensitive to touch - one of the reasons why it is considered.
If a person plays with the zipper on his sweater or jacket, he may be tense and trying to calm himself down. Students do this before an exam if it makes them anxious, and poker players use this movement when they are worried about money slipping through their fingers. Please note that this behavior can be both calming and a way to cope with boredom.
Hull deflection
By leaning away from the interlocutor, a person symbolically and physically distances himself. We deviate if we do not agree with what has been said. This behavior is often seen on talk shows. We ourselves do not always notice to what extent we distance ourselves from people who are unpleasant to us.
Legs
Territorial invasion
During a heated argument, a person may unintentionally invade your personal space, stopping just ten centimeters from your face, sticking out his chest and glaring his eyes angrily. Violating someone else's territorial boundaries serves as a method of intimidation and can be a precursor to a physical attack.
Angle offset
Most people prefer to talk to the other person while moving slightly to the side, rather than directly face to face. Children, getting to know each other, usually approach from the side, and for good reason: they are better accepted this way. I have noticed that when businessmen stand face to face and with a slight offset, their communication lasts longer. Please note that if there are signs of irritation, it is better to stand in front of the interlocutor at an angle: this will help reduce the intensity of passions.
Rhythmmaker
The one who sets the pace of movement in a group of several people is usually the one among them who is in charge. We speed up or slow down the pace to match the oldest member of the group or its leader. Even teenagers do this: they adapt to the walking pace of the most socially active member of the group. He can go first or last; in the second case, the whole group, obeying him, tries to slow down. When analyzing the behavior of a group, remember that the main one is not the one in front, but rather the one who sets the pace.
The Body Language Dictionary is the first guide of its kind on nonverbal communication. Its author, Joe Navarro, worked as an FBI special agent for 25 years and conducted many interrogations.
In his new book, he described more than 400 elements of nonverbal communication. From it you will learn how to recognize a person's feelings by subtle changes in the pupils, how to interpret gestures, as well as many other interesting facts about deciphering signals from the human body.
The life hacker may receive a commission from the purchase of a product featured in the publication.
Educational game for children 6 years old"Parts of the body" or "What we are made of." It is aimed at developing attention, memory, and expanding ideas about the human body.
Game description
Using available means, two parallel lines are “drawn” on the floor. The distance between the lines is approximately 3-4 meters. The driver is between the lines, and the rest are behind one of them.
Lines can be drawn with chalk on the floor or marked with ropes.
In the first games, the presenter is recommended to be an adult. He asks questions about the structure of the human body. The guys who answered correctly are allowed to cross the opposite line. The rest, taking advantage of the moment when the leader is distracted, can run across.
If the driver manages to touch the running player, then he becomes the driver.
Sample list of questions
- What is only singular in the human body? (head, neck, face, heart...)
- What occurs twice in the body? (arms, legs, ears...)
- How about four times? (four thumbs...)
- Which parts of the body are round/oval in shape?
- What part of the body can be bent?
- Which parts of the body are hard and which are soft?
- On what part of the body can you carry a small book?
Note
The last question requires a clear answer. That is, it is necessary to demonstrate the process. In this case, you can use different parts of the body (head, shoulders, neck, knee, elbow...).
Each new game becomes more complicated, adding questions about internal organs. Provided that conversations were held on the relevant topic.