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| Illustrations by Rod Clement |
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We humans would look considerably different--both inside and out--if evolution had designed the human body to work better and last longer. Dr. S. Jay Olshansky of the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois in Chicago and two other researchers speculated recently in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN that a human "better designed for old age" might possess the following features.
- shorter stature would provide a lower center of gravity which would perhaps help to prevent falls that often plague the elderly
- more ribs could help prevent hernias and other problems of holding organs in place more effectively
- thicker bones would protect against breakage during falls
- knees able to bend backwards would make the bones less likely to grind and deteriorate
- a forward-tilting upper torso would relieve pressure on the vertebrae, thus lowering the risk of ruptured disks
- a curved neck with enlarged vertebrae would counterbalance the tilted torso and enable the head to stay up and forward
- thicker disks would resist pressure on the back
- extra muscles and fat would add weight on the bones, which would help counter the effects of osteoporosis (demineralization of bones)
- leg veins with more "check valves" would combat the development of varicose veins
- larger hamstrings and tendons would help support the leg and hip, thus reducing the need for knee and hip replacement surgery.
- the optic nerve attached to the back of the retina might stabilize the retina's connection to the back of the eye, thus helping to prevent retinal detachment
- a raised trachea would better help food and drink bypass the windpipe and reduce choking
- an enlarged, mobile outer ear would better collect sound with greater efficiency to compensate for internal ear breakdowns
- more plentiful and durable hair cells in the ear would help preserve hearing late in life.
With all of these changes our bodies would be better constructed, but wouldn’t win any beauty contests.
Is It True My Body Is Not Entirely Alive?
So you think you’re all alive? Think again. As strange as it may seem, the human body is not entirely "alive". A small part of us is not alive, never has been, and never will be. Ironically, what’s not alive is vital to what is. 96.2 per cent of the human body is alive. This part is composed of living, "organic elements" present in many different forms. DNA, RNA proteins, lipids, and sugars are all composed of primarily oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. In addition, water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as other small molecules are involved in these elements. The proportions are oxygen (65 per cent), carbon (18.5 per cent), hydrogen (9.5 per cent), and nitrogen (3.2 per cent). The remaining 3.8 per cent of the human body is technically composed of non-living, “non-organic elements” in the form of salts. Although their quantities are fairly miniscule, they are absolutely critical for the maintenance of the body's structure and smooth working order. For example, calcium is a major component of bones and teeth. Potassium keeps the heart beating evenly and regularly. Iron is necessary for the movement of oxygen by red blood cells. The breakdown of this 3.8 per cent of us that isn’t alive consists of calcium (1.5 per cent), phosphorus (1.0 per cent), potassium (0.4 per cent), sulfur (0.3 percent), chlorine (0.2 per cent), sodium (0.2 per cent), iodine (0.1 per cent), iron (0.1 per cent), and magnesium (0.1 per cent). The remaining 0.5 per cent is composed of trace elements. These are chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, tin, vanadium, and zinc. Some of these trace elements are part of critical body enzymes. Without these enzymes we’d die and all of our body wouldn’t be alive.
What Is That Thin Piece Of Skin Under The Center Of My Tongue And What Does It Do?
Bet you discovered this once when you stuck your tongue out at yourself while looking in a mirror. That small, thin, sickle-shaped tissue under your tongue is called the lingual frenulum (aka frenum). The frenulum connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Normal talking would be impossible without it. Eating would be more difficult. Occasionally it is too short such that the individual has difficulties sticking their tongue out. Teachers love this since the pupil cannot be rude in school (at least not that way). There are a couple of similar structures attaching the upper and lower lips to the gums (gingival). These are known as the labial frenula. The largest is the one in the midline of the upper lip. It is located just above the space between your two central incisors (front teeth). You can feel it with your tongue or you can lift up your upper lip and see it in a mirror. The lingual frenulum is composed of epithelium (special cells cemented together in layers) on the outside and some connective tissue with a few muscle fibers on the inside. If the frenulum is so abnormal that the tongue doesn’t work well, then surgery may have to reposition it (frenoplasty) or divide it (frenotomy). Survivors of either surgery are called “frenos”. Partial or complete fusion of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is a condition called ankyloglossia. This can cause a breastfeeding infant great difficulty latching onto to the breast, keeping attached, and getting sufficient milk. Ankyloglossia can also cause speech problems in children. It can interfere with normal tongue actions such as licking and kissing. Drs. M.L. Lalakea and A.H. Messner from the Division of Surgery/Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at Stanford University recently reported in PEDIATRIC CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA that ankyloglossia may have no symptoms and may resolve itself if left alone. But sometimes surgery is needed. Your “frenos” won’t be “tongue tied”.
Why Do Men Sometimes Develop Large Breasts?
Excessive enlargement of the male breast is called gynecomastia. The term is from the Greek “gynh” meaning “woman” or “female” and “mastos” meaning “breast”. The breasts of some men can become just as large as they are in average women. The mammary glands within a man’s breast can be fully functioning too. This means that a man could be capable of giving milk. Gynecomastia can be caused by obesity, the use of estrogens or steroids, the presence of a tumor, or even as a symptom of disease. In an abnormal genetic condition called Klinefelter’s syndrome, about half of sufferers have gynecomastia. They also are usually very tall, with very long legs, small testes, and infertile. Gynecomastia can occur at any age but is most common in aging men. As a man grows into middle age, often his male hormone (testosterone) production reduces somewhat, while his female hormone (estrogen) production remains the same. The result is that female sex characteristics such as large breasts can appear in the man. Men troubled by breast enlargement should see their physician. Corrective treatments for gynecomastia include liposuction or surgical removal of tissue. Often the cause of gynecomastia is unknown or something that the person has done to themselves (idiopathic). Temporary enlargement of the breasts is not unusual or abnormal in adolescent boys, even in preadolescent boys. Dr. R. Einav-Bachar from the Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Schneider Children’s Medical Centre of Israel in Petah Tiqva and three colleagues recently reported in CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY that 5 per cent of 581 boys referred to them for the appearance of gynecomastia were pre-pubertal. In most cases gynecomastia was the only symptom and the cause was idiopathic.
Who Laughs More, Women Or Men?
Studies show that men and women laugh just about equally. It’s been found that men tell jokes far more often than women. But women smile more often than men. Men laugh louder. Women are more likely to giggle. The emotional and social context is important since others react to our laughter.
Who Prefers Sexually-Related Humor More, Women Or Men?
Just about equal it would seem. The emotional arousal level at the time seems to be important here. In an experiment involving the relationship of humor, gender, and anger, Dr. F.J. Prerost of the Department of Psychology at Western Illinois University in Macomb reported in PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORTS that after anger was induced in 180 female subjects and 180 male subjects who were already sexually aroused, both women and men “preferred sexual and sexist humor when they reported high sexual desire”. But when they were less angry and less sexually aroused, they both preferred humor with more neutral content. No gender differences were reported.
Does A Laugh Track Make Us Laugh More?
When others laugh around us, we are more likely to laugh too. TV shows “warm up” an audience prior to the show to get ready to laugh more during the show. The TV industry continues to debate whether canned laughter makes a show funnier. Research gives mixed results. In one experiment, subjects listening to tape-recorded jokes laughed more when there was a laugh track in the background. But even though they laughed more, when the subjects rated the jokes afterwards, they did not rate them as any funnier than when there was no laugh track. In another experiment, Drs. G.N. Martin and C.D. Gray from the School of Psychology at Middlesex University in the U.K. reported in the JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY that a laugh track resulted in subjects laughing and smiling more and later judging the jokes to be funnier. No gender differences reported in laugh track response.
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