Questions about the human body

Chillum · Post by **Chillum** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 18:28

This thread is ment for questions about the human body, just as the title descripes

And I'll start with this question that I have been thinking about for a while..

Why do humans laugh when something tickles? I mean, it's (IMO)uncomfortable to be tickled, but I still laugh.. I think it may have something to do with some nerves or something like that, but I'm not the best to ask about such things..

Does anybody know??

Feel free to come with your own questions about this strange thing we call the body..

Ancsur2002 · Post by **Ancsur2002** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 20:41

I don't KNOW, but I have another question related to this: why are some people ticklish, some not ever, and there are some who can control it somehow?

Good topic IMHO

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 0:56

Tickling is thought to result from the brain's attempts to distinguish between sensory inputs resulting from the environment and from ourselves.
You can't tickle yourself because then the brain receives precise sensory information from the nerves in the fingers (there's no "confusion" so to speak).

Laughter from tickling indicates a social function. The social setting and the tickling person's relationship to the person being tickled is also important regarding the sensitivty - ever tried tickling a stranger?

To avoid the effects of tickling attempt to divert your attention. Move your feet for example and think on that.

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 20:02

So quiet in here...

Since nobody has any questions I might as well put up a little quiz (perhaps sparking some needed curiosity).

Simple time: How many bones are there in the body of an adult human?

Now don't cheat; everyone are obviously "qualified" to guess.

Post by **Chroelle** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 21:07

Something like 216 or so... I can't quite remember, but it was ALOT. It wouldn't be fun if you cheated (you can ask Parvini on this

)

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 13:48

Very close. It's 206 on average.

(I had hoped somebody would guess at either less than 100 or 350 (which is the number of bones in a newborn)).

Post by **Chroelle** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 14:21

A newborn has 144 more bones than grown-ups??? I knew they had a few more, since the scalp for example grows together. But 144..... Im totally baffled.

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 14:36

Bones have different biomechanical properties in infancy (since they're mostly made of a cartilage at this stage). With time they fuse as the cartilage is slowly turned into bone tissue and eventually mature into the 206 bones in the adult body.

(The clavicle is the last bone to fully mature - first stopping its growth at about age 17-18).

Post by **Chroelle** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 14:41

Ok. Where is that? (The clavicle) This is actually quite interesting reading. Are you a doctor by any chance in RL? Or maybe your av shows your profession? Or are you are medical student?

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 15:03

The clavicle is the collar bone (os clavicula). They lie just below the skin of the upper front of the torso, between the shoulder and the base of the neck, clearly visible.

Chroelle wrote:Or are you are medical student?

Yes. (As can be learned by viewing my profile).

Post by **Chroelle** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 15:44

Dammit I forgot to edit the post. I realized shortly after posting, as I ....Viewed your profile...

Chillum · Post by **Chillum** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 20:44

Hmm... Thanks for the answer about the tickling-thing..

Though the laguage was a bit too civilized for me (when written in english), I got the most of it..

I got one more: Why do we get ear wax? And why does somebody have more than others?

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 0:06

Ear wax (or cerumen) restricts access to the ear for bacteria, insects, dirt etc. It also helps clean the ear of things that do get in there: New skin cells lining the auditory canal are pushed outwards taking some of the cerumen with them. That could explain some of the individual variation in terms of cerumen production; if the ear is irritated, cerumen production is increased.

Chillum · Post by **Chillum** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:53

That sounds pretty logic..

And pretty smart too!

For how long have you been studying?

Will see if I can find a new good question for you soon..

Post by **Chroelle** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 13:18

Zandrav Ibistenn wrote:Tickling is thought to result from the brain's attempts to distinguish between sensory inputs resulting from the environment and from ourselves.
You can't tickle yourself because then the brain receives precise sensory information from the nerves in the fingers (there's no "confusion" so to speak).

Laughter from tickling indicates a social function. The social setting and the tickling person's relationship to the person being tickled is also important regarding the sensitivty - ever tried tickling a stranger?

To avoid the effects of tickling attempt to divert your attention. Move your feet for example and think on that.

I will just translate into Danish so that Chill gets the full meaning:
Det at kilde mener man kommer fra hjernens forsøg på at skelne mellem sanseindtryk fra omgivelserne og fra sig selv.
Du kan ikke kilde dig selv, for hjernen vil opfatte det der sker som naturligt da den samtidig får information fra fingrene om at det er det de gør. (Derfor er der ingen forvirring i sanseindtrykkene.)

At grine når man bliver kildet indikerer en social funktion (altså en naturlig respons på en social funktion). Omgivelserne, situationen og dit forhold til den kildende er vigtigt når man tænker på HVOR kilden man er. Har du for eksempel prøvet at kilde en fremmed.

For at undgå at grine eller føle "kilden" skal du prøve at trække din opmærksomhed over på noget andet: bevæg fx dine fødder og tænk på det. [/Translation]

So I hope that made it clear. But again when you feel ticklish when somebody tickles you when you are actually angry, then you sense it in another way. But you still seem ticklish. If you are mad at the person that tickles you, then some people are not ticklish at all (all of a sudden) while others can't help but being ticklish.

Chillum · Post by **Chillum** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 18:16

Thanks for the translation Chrølle!

I must say, that I can tickle myself under the feet.. Not so I laugh, but just tickle a bit..

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:07

Time for another quiz.

Another straightforward numerical one:
How many bones make up the spinal column?

Take your guess.
I'll reveal a "fun fact" along with the answer (I hope that will "pardon" the question for those of you who think it's about a boring detail).

Maz · Post by **Maz** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:27

125 ^_^ I just felt like guessing that number... I have no knowledge at all about the true answer though

Chillum · Post by **Chillum** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:29

87 is my guess ^_^

Dizi · Post by **Dizi** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:35

it something like 25 or 26 I remember learning about it in science when I was younger but can't rmember its 20 something though as I remember thinking that it was a lot more then that.