The human body is a marvel of nature and a testament to the complexity and intricacy of life on earth. It is made up of countless cells, each performing a specific function that contributes to the body’s overall functioning.
Our bodies are impeccable – perfect the way they are. It’s surreal that something complex, yet ours, is so discovered but still so mysterious.
Furthermore, our bodies’ mysteries make us want to learn more about them, and the more we know, the more we are shocked this is all happening at this moment.
This article will explore five astonishing facts about the human body that highlight its remarkable capabilities and the wonders it can perform.
Your blood vessels would stretch for more than 97000 km if laid out flat
The circulatory system in the human body consists of blood vessels termed arteries, capillaries, and veins that pump blood when your heart beats.
Every portion of your body receives blood through these blood vessels:
- Veins return blood to the heart;
- Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart;
- Capillaries link them all together.
The extensive network of blood veins in a typical youngster would span more than 97000 kilometers if laid end to end.
They would extend for approximately 160000 km in a typical adult. Nearly 80% of this length would be made up of your capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in your body (measured only 5 micrometers in diameter).
The circumference of the Earth is about 40000 km, in contrast. This implies that one person's blood arteries could circle the planet several times!
We lose 200 million skin cells every hour!
Okay, this is wild! It is a fact that our skin grows fast, but not this fast! We all fell sometimes and got cut. The new skin will grow very disturbingly quickly! Let’s check exactly how much.
Imperial College London says we lose around 200 million skin cells in 24 hours. Incredible!
Humans lose 200,000,000 skin cells every hour. During a 24-hour period, a person loses almost five thousand million skin cells. It has been a challenge for scientists to explain how this colossal shedding process can occur without there being a break in the skin barrier.
Another exciting thing from this research is that an epidermal cell is a flattened version of a 14-sided 3D solid made out of six rectangular and eight hexagonal sides – or with a fancy name – a tetrakaidecahedron.
Why doesn’t our skin’s protective barrier break after losing so many cells? Well, the secret lies in precisely that fancy name we mentioned before.
That shape allows skin cells to bond tightly with other skin cells around them. The study also discovered that epidermal cells create a protein that acts as temporary glue, binding cells together “tight junctions.” The unique cell shape and this “glue” allow your skin to keep its integrity despite being thin.
Bacteria in your gut can influence your mood
Not only is the gut incredible for its other functions and anatomy in the human body, for example, it has its nervous system and is therefore called a “second brain,” but also for impacting your mental health!
We have an enormous amount of bacteria in our bodies, and the gut is no different. But the bacteria in the gut are often referred to as the microbiome. This group of bacteria may affect how the brain develops, how emotions are expressed, how pain is perceived, and how stressed one feels.
At birth, your gut is sterile. Your genetic makeup and the bacteria in your surroundings impact on the diverse colony of bacteria that develops in your GI tract over time. Your brain employs hundreds of the neurochemicals your microbiome creates to control memory, learning, and mood!
In actuality, your microbiome generates almost 95% of the serotonin your body needs to regulate your mood, emotions of well-being, and happiness.
Additionally, serotonin promotes healthy bones, lowers depression, controls anxiety, and eases bodily functions, including eating, sleeping, and digestion. And your gut instinct made it all possible!
Your brain shrinks during pregnancy
For all of you women, this sounds scary! But watch this; the 2017 Nature Neuroscience research showed that pregnant women had thinner cortical walls and less surface area in the brain's “grey matter” regions.
The cerebral cortex—where the human body processes people's emotions and nonverbal cues—is where this loss of gray matter frequently happens. More specifically, it affects areas that are important for social cognition.
Instead of being detrimental, this volume loss enhances the brain's capacity to understand social circumstances more quickly, particularly when interpreting the wants and emotions of infants.
The first concrete proof that pregnancy causes long-lasting alterations in a woman's brain can be found in the observation that these grey matter decreases persisted for at least two years after delivery.
Your breathing and heart rate may match the music you're listening to.
That's correct! Your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure may vary depending on the music you're listening to. According to studies, the tempo and intensity of the music you're listening to immediately correspond to changes in your cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. I’ve already mentioned this in one of my first articles ever. Please have a look at it!
“It is not only the emotion that creates the cardiovascular changes, but this study suggests that also the opposite might be possible.”
Luciano Bernardi believes the boosts in the mood—including those pleasurable “chills”—triggered by music might also be a side effect of a physiological reaction.
For instance, songs featuring crescendos, or increases in volume and intensity, can cause corresponding rises in blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing.
On the other hand, their vitals drop during decrescendos and silent intervals. Repeated rhythms in music have been discovered to synchronize your heartbeat with the beat, according to researchers.
I hope you realize how fantastic our bodies are! It’s truly a treasure having it, so let’s keep it healthy by exercising, listening to music, eating healthy, and not worrying. Your body is unique in its way; keep that in mind.
If you want to be in our columns and get the opportunity to share your or other people's stories and opportunities, write to us on our social networks, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or by mail at info@pokrenise-mladi.org.
#Move on!
*An article was prepared and written by Balša Kićović, Textual Content Creator.