7 Things Our Body Can Do That Totally Amaze Us

Descartes once wrote that the body is a machine, and since then, biomedicine and scientists have adopted this definition. The human body is a wonderful machine that works with precision with each of its parts. And with so many features, the human body never ceases to amaze us.

1. Chin muscles

The mentalis muscles, also known as the chin muscles, are giving us mixed feelings, as their quirky appearance is something we would never have expected. Looking like little tentacles, these muscles are responsible for producing all facial expressions involving the lips, chin, and cheeks. And if you were wondering, yes, these are the culprits behind the wrinkles on your chin skin.

There are some muscles that do not connect with other bones, like the mental muscles. This allows movement in our faces and enables the expression of emotions. The interesting thing about this is that instead of pulling on the muscles themselves, they pull on our skin, creating our amusing wrinkles.

2. Wrinkly fingers

You might remember that as kids, whenever we spent too much time at the pool or in the bath, we enjoyed having wrinkly fingers. And still, each time our fingers spend a considerable amount of time underwater, they start to look like raisins. The reason behind this feature, according to studies, is that they resort to this appearance to improve grip handling.

After conducting some experiments, scientists discovered that it is much easier to manipulate objects underwater with wrinkled fingers than with unwrinkled fingers. So this could be an evolutionary trait to help us thrive better in wet environments.

3. That pink bit at the corner of your eye

There’s an interesting story behind that little bit of pink conjunctival tissue you see out of the corner of your eye. While you may have paid a lot more attention to it while doing your makeup, these pink bits called the plica semilunaris are responsible for helping with tear drainage and eyeball mobility.

But in the past, they were part of a third eyelid that functioned to protect and moisten the eye. This third eyelid is still present in cats or dogs, but for humans, it evolved a long time ago, and now we only have a vestigial bulge of tissue, that’s the one we see in the corner of our eyes.

4. A newly discovered organ called the interstitium

The human body never ceases to amaze us, and this newly discovered organ is proof. Hidden beneath our skin, scientists have discovered the interstitium, an organ made up of tissues and fluid-filled compartments. It is found throughout the body, below the skin, and in the digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems.

This new discovery could significantly advance our knowledge and understanding of many diseases and help develop medicine to cure them.

5. The origin of our nails

Most of us love that feeling of getting our nails done. But only some of us know the origin of nails. As you’ve probably heard, nails are made of keratin, but they start out as living cells. Beneath the skin, before you can see your beautiful nails, a structure called the “root” produces living cells that then form the nail.

This is like a little pocket of flesh that connects to blood vessels, which supply the nail with the nutrients it needs to make new cells. As the cells form, they are pushed forward, forming the nails we know.

6. The connection between blushing and your stomach

Next time you see your crush and blush, keep in mind that your stomach is “blushing” too. Your stomach can receive signals from your brain and cause its muscles to move and mix digestive juices. But an interesting fact that many don’t know is that every time you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.

7. Humans literally glow

The next time someone compliments your glow, take it literally. Researchers have shown that the human body glows, emitting visible light in very small amounts at levels that wax and wane throughout the day. This peculiar glow is the product of biochemical reactions.

We are talking about visible light, but the human eye cannot detect it with the naked eye.

Which of these body features impressed you the most? Share with us in the comments!