Questions tagged [human-anatomy]
This tag is for questions about the general anatomical features of human beings as opposed to the anatomy of non-human animals.
555
questions
1
vote
1
answer
557
views
How does kissing burst a person's ear drum?
A young Chinese woman was left partially deaf following a passionate kiss from her boyfriend.
..
The kiss reduced pressure in the mouth, pulled the eardrum out and caused the breakdown of the ear.
...
user22020
1
vote
0
answers
41
views
Are there nerve endings on or inside the corpus cavernosum/spongiosum? [duplicate]
The penile skin has many nerve endings, but what about the inner structure of the penis?
There are two dorsal nerves on either cavernosum. But it is unknown whether these nerves provide sensitivity ...
user37940
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
Muscle involved in carrying load on head
I have seen people carrying heavy load on their head especially in 3rd world countries, does carrying on head any benefit or harm, which muscle get strengthen in doing it?
- 1,787
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the function of the Hyoepiglottic ligament?
The hyoepiglottic ligament (ligamentum hyoepiglotticum) is an elastic band that connects the epiglottis to the hyoid bone.
Although I can find information about the clinical significance of this ...
- 29.2k
0
votes
2
answers
322
views
What is the easiest way to measure a human body surface area? [closed]
Looking for accuracy, cost-efficiency, and speed: this could provide useful information for determining individual bioinformatic calculations, pertaining to, for example cell type estimation, for ...
- 102
2
votes
0
answers
213
views
Alpha-gamma co-activation
I am having trouble visualizing/grasping the necessity of alpha-gamma co-activation. My understanding is the following:
When an external load causes stretching of the sensory muscle spindles, the 1a ...
- 21
13
votes
2
answers
286
views
Are there certain symmetric-pair muscles that are slightly bigger and NOT due to handedness?
Ok, hear me out, I was just thinking about an article in Nature I read in the past titled "Scrotal asymmetry in man and in ancient sculpture"$^{\dagger}$ and more recently an entire medical textbook ...
user36920
2
votes
0
answers
133
views
What causes the blue color seen in baboons?
Based off of this question from Worldbuilding SE.
In that question, I talked about how the scrotum and buttocks of various animals have a blue color because of thick deposits of collagen in those ...
- 121
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Why does the amount of adipose tissue contribute the most to the total body water amount in humans?
I don't quite get this concept. An obese individual will have a greater fat content in their body, and thus will have 45% water in their bodies (for example), versus a slim person that will have 75% ...
3
votes
1
answer
313
views
Is the cranial nerve blood supply encapsulated by the blood brain barrier?
I understand the origin of cranial nerves are within the blood brain barrier. I'm assuming as they extend distally there's a point at which their vasculature is not encapsulated by the blood brain ...
- 131
2
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Terminology for parts of the leg
Going out on a limb here (pun intended)...I'm writing a paper in which I need to refer to various sections of the human leg from upper thigh to knee to calf and ankle. However, "calf" covers a fairly ...
- 129
-1
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the difference between the otolith membrane and the endolymph?
The human vestibular system contains otoliths to sense acceleration in the vertical and horizontal plane. I cannot find what the difference is between the otolith membrane and the endolymph?
Can ...
- 19
2
votes
0
answers
107
views
Is there any evolutionary significance of downward facing nostrils in human beings?
The nostrils in apes and monkeys are almost at the front, but in humans nostrils (external nares) face downwards. Also a lot of non-primate mammals like goats have nostrils at the front.
Is it the ...
- 733
0
votes
1
answer
102
views
Where in the digestive tract are melatonin pills dissolved? Same question for gelatin capsules
I want to do a blind controlled experiment on myself to learn whether melatonin pills have any effects on me. I bought some empty gelatin capsules. I am going to fill some of them with rice and put ...
- 101
2
votes
2
answers
590
views
Use of progesterone in preventing ovulation?
I have heard that progesterone in contraceptive pills or interuterine devices have been known to prevent ovulation. How is this possible since the LH and FSH are only affected by oestrogen not ...
- 1,247
3
votes
2
answers
694
views
What are the most efficient heat exchange sites on the human body?
Where on the body would be the best place to achieve the greatest cooling effect with a "cooling undergarment"? Concentrated over the kidneys, groin, inside the wrists, back of the neck?
- 133
1
vote
1
answer
230
views
DNA Dead skin cells
If the stratum corneum is anucleated, dead cells - how is it that we are able to get DNA from buccal cheek swabs? Are we grabbing more than just the stratum corneum with the swab (eg. the underlying ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Special visceral efferent
Why are special visceral efferent nerves are named as such?
They are supplying motor impulses to muscles of pharyngeal arch, which are both skeletal(facial) and visceral(laryngeal) 1, so why only ...
- 4,786
2
votes
0
answers
4k
views
What are those brown scars in the eyes? [closed]
I have recently realised that one of my friends had brown scars or marks inside his eyes. He says that he doesn't know what they are and has been there since young. What could this possibly be ? Are ...
- 167
3
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What is the ratio of head to waist and waist to floor of the human anatomy?
I'm trying to find the ratio of upper body to lower body. That is, the ratio of the length of the waist to the head over the length of the waist to the floor.
It's been harder to track down a ...
- 141
9
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What is head of a bone?
For most of the long bones head is the proximal end, but for metacarpals and Ulna, head is the distal end. Why are their distal ends called as heads?
What's the criteria for calling an end as head ...
- 4,786
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why did humans get rid of their tail in the evolution?
Most mammals seem to have tails. Even human embryos start out with a tail. But here we are with nothing but a tail bone that hurts when we trip over backwards. What is it good for? Why don't humans ...
- 500
1
vote
0
answers
241
views
What are the absolute facial features which features sexual dimorphism in humans?
Apart from beard and moustache, is there any facial feature that would help to distinguish between men and women?
It is said that men have square, rectangular or oblong face and women have oval,...
- 220
1
vote
1
answer
30
views
How much smaller is the diffusivity of a molecule in the retina as opposed to the vitreous of the eye?
I'm interested in the diffusivity of macromolecules inside the mammalian retina, relative to the vitreous.
For example is the diffusion coefficient for a macromolecule (protein, 50-150 kDa for ...
- 251
-1
votes
1
answer
150
views
Testosterone level in body with activites
Does ejaculation lower level of testosterone in body, Conflicting reports on internet, a firm answer would help a lot?
- 1,787
6
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Are tendons and ligaments classified under the muscular or bone system?
Are tendons and ligaments classified under the muscular system or the bone system?
Basically they are not bones or muscles and that's why I have doubt.
2
votes
0
answers
334
views
Why does the clavicle ossify intramembraneously?
The clavicle is the only long bone which ossifies as a membrane bone. I studied this process, but I can't find the reason why it features intramembraneous ossification?
0
votes
0
answers
689
views
Do all body organs grow in proportion during the period of physical development?
It is obvious that during childhood and puberty, the human body grows uniformly or proportionally so that a child's arm length, for example, is shorter than an adult's arm length but is proportional ...
- 474
1
vote
0
answers
281
views
Does the vagus nerve supply the human thoracic diaphragm?
The vagus nerve (CN X) passes through the oesophageal hiatus of the diaphragm at the vertebral level T10.
But does the vagus nerve actually offer any nerve supply to the diaphragm?
- 113
11
votes
1
answer
25k
views
Why does the ring finger not move independently?
Why is it that we need to move little finger in order to move ring finger with it? For example, put your palm on a table and fold your middle finger inside. You won't be able to move your ring finger ...
8
votes
1
answer
378
views
Why the smell of sweat greatly varies across the body?
Having only two types of sweat glands (eccrine, apocrine) I would expect the sweat odor "spectrum" to be very "narrow". However, the smell of sweat greatly varies between scalp, arms, armpits, groin ...
- 345
6
votes
2
answers
173
views
Comprehensive biology or anatomy wordbank
I teach A&P for bio non majors. I have a special needs student whose accommodation requires a word bank for any anatomy identification questions I have on the exam. I would like to present the ...
- 3,675
2
votes
0
answers
85
views
Limit of muscle atrophy [closed]
I read that lack of action leads to muscle atrophy , I experienced same when I had a cast for hand fracture. So how far this atrophy go, who decides minimum size of muscle due to lack of activity, for ...
- 1,787
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can skeletal morphology change in adults?
I'm just a curious layman, so be gentle. I read around that things like the cranial1 and pelvic2 morphology change with age, but I also read seemingly contradictory information that bones are '...
- 91
3
votes
1
answer
203
views
Can exercise strengthen tendons and ligaments?
Is is possible to strengthen tendons using exercise to prevent injury, for example preventing shoulder dislocation?
- 1,787
1
vote
1
answer
771
views
Did the capacity to be "knocked out" arise because it conferred an evolutionary advantage?
From first principles, it seems surprising that a blow to the head would cause unconsciousness rather than just impaired function.
I've heard a lot of analogies to computers -- "Your brain has to ...
- 349
1
vote
2
answers
437
views
What is a concussion?
When I was a kid and someone got a concussion, I seem to remember people telling me that it was when your brain impacts the side of your skull, accelerating fast enough to do so despite the ...
- 349
2
votes
1
answer
425
views
growth limit on muscle
Is there any biological limit on muscle growth in human body, one can keep pushing body and keep growing more and more muscle but somewhere it must become diffcult for body to sustain those cells ...
- 1,787
0
votes
0
answers
97
views
Mental Symphysis
Why dow we consider mandibular symphysis(symphysis menti) as type of Amphiarthrosis that too of symphysis variety, eventhough it lacks movement and cartilage at joint?
Why don't we consider as ...
- 4,786
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
Arteries used for inserting catheter
For catheter purpose, femoral and subclavian arteries are mostly used as starting point. Why? Are there other arteries which are used for the purpose?
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the name for the opening in the mouth for the nasal passages?
Is there a proper anatomical name for the opening in the soft palette where the nasal passages enter the mouth?
- 234
5
votes
0
answers
91
views
Do cells in healing ligaments or tendons have deformation processes? If so, what are they?
I am trying to better understand how non-muscle tissue in the muscuoloskeletal system heals. Specifically, I am interested in how ligaments or tendons heal once torn.
I read the following text:
...
- 2,060
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Do Japanese have a different pelvis position than Europeans?
I was watching a show that made the claim that European women's pelvis is tilted more forward compared to Japanese women's which places their butts higher up.
Is this information accurate?
user32178
1
vote
0
answers
57
views
Bone fracture cause [closed]
I had bone fracture twice in the same arm. So I had first bone fracture in right forearm with 45 degree break on two bones, after 3 months of that fracture while I was climbing a slope I fell and I ...
- 1,787
4
votes
0
answers
736
views
Why are sutural bones more common in lambdoid suture? [closed]
Why are sutural bones (Wormian bones) are more commonly present at lambdoid suture? Is the tortuous nature of lambdoid suture a reason for that?
Evidences for my claim:
They(sutural bones) occur ...
- 4,786
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Ear ossicles a part of Skull?
Is there anything special about not considering ear ossicles as a part of skull?
I could not understand the reasoning behind such classification.
- 4,786
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What's so special about Chassaignac tubercle?
1-How does massaging of carotid artery at chassaignac tubercle( anterior tubercle of transverse process of C6 vertebra ) can relieve the symptoms of Supraventricular Tachycardia?
My attempt: I think ...
- 4,786
2
votes
1
answer
250
views
Reference to hypothesis about breast sexual attractiveness?
Some time ago there was a hypothesis published,suggesting evolution made breasts mimic buttocks for either primitive men being attracted to women when they started to walk on two legs, or to ...
- 2,777
1
vote
1
answer
105
views
What makes a rotator cuff tear symptomatic in humans?
The majority of rotator cuff tears is asymptomatic {1}. What makes a rotator cuff tear symptomatic or asymptomatic in humans?
References:
{1} Minagawa, Hiroshi, Nobuyuki Yamamoto, Hidekazu Abe, ...
- 1,855
2
votes
0
answers
833
views
Are differing shapes of the acromion congenital or acquired?
In the human body, the acromion is located here:
There exist different shapes of acromion, at least 3:
The frequency varies according to the acromion type:
Some clinicians consider that there exist ...
- 1,855