Human body facts that will make you appreciate the magic happening inside you at this very moment. Learn more about the systems, parts, and elements of your body with these facts.
The blood in the human arteries is a bright red while the blood in human veins is dark red
The red color of our blood is due to the hemoglobin inside our red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a protein that makes up a complex iron molecule that transports oxygen in our system. Iron has a certain property that reflects red light, which is why we see blood as red.
There are over one hundred thousand hairs found on the average scalp
Each hair from a person’s head grows from a single tube-like hole. This hole is a follicle. Hair sticking out of the skin is the hair shaft.
Fingers don’t have muscles that help movement
The muscles that move the fingers are the palm and forearm. The long tendons that deliver motion from the forearm muscles can be seen under the skin by the wrist. You can also see muscle movement from the back of the hands.
A person is unable to detect smells when they suffer from anosmia
There are rare cases in which a person may be born with anosmia. This condition is congenital anosmia. A loss of smell could also mean no sense of taste.
Bromidrophobia is the term used for the fear of body odors
Psychologists link this with obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). With OCD, it details the washing itself. Bromidrophobia focuses on removing the smell itself.
Cerumen is the medical term used to refer to ear wax
Earwax is a brown or yellowish substance that the ears secrete in the ear canal. This protects the skin of the human ear canal against bacteria, water, and insects. Earwax also assists in keeping the ear clean and lubricated.
Borborygmus is the sound your stomach makes when you are hungry
This sound is due to the movement of fluids and gasses inside the intestines. This is a normal phenomenon that anyone experiences. If you are not hungry, this could be a sign of incomplete digestion.
The average person has around 250 hairs per eyebrow
According to research, those who do not or have never plucked their eyebrows can have as many as 1100 total hairs. On average you lose about 10 eyebrow hairs a day. The hair in this area can grow back so long as there is no extensive damage to the area.
You cannot sneeze with your eyes open
This is because of the pressure that comes from the sneeze. The body’s blinking response is active during a sneeze to protect the eyes from any germs. Some people believe that we close our eyes when we sneeze to keep our eyeballs from popping out. This is not true.
Fingernails grow approximately 3 millimeters per month which is twice as fast as toenails
If you were to lose a fingernail, it would take approximately six months to regrow it completely. On the other hand, it takes a toenail around 12 to 18 months to completely regrow.
