13 Fun Facts About the Human Body

Want to know some fascinating facts about the human body? Keep on reading to learn things about yourself you never knew.

Your body is a fascinating construction made up of eleven intricately linked systems.

These are the skeletal system, muscular system, circulatory system, immune system, endocrine system, nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, digestive system, urinary system, and integumentary system.

1. Your Ears Have Tiny Crystals Inside Them

The ear's anatomy is one of the most incredible things about the human body! First of all, you have the tiniest bones in your body inside your ear. Without them, you wouldn't be able to hear.

Sounds cause the tiny bones inside your ear to vibrate, which get transferred to the cochlea, transmitting the sound to your brain.

But that's not the most fascinating thing about your ears. Everyone has tiny calcium carbonate crystals inside their ears responsible for their balance. The crystals are stuck to a little gelatin mat inside the ear and provide information about our movement.

If your ear crystals get displaced or become loose, it can cause nausea and dizziness.

2. More Than 50 Percent Of Your Bones Are In Your Hands and Feet

Your hands and feet are extremely delicate. Each hand has 27 bones, and each foot has 26 bones which means your hands and feet contain more than half of your skeleton's bones.

That's why it's so easy to break a bone in your hand or foot. There's a much higher chance as you have so many bones there! Many bones in your hands and feet are tiny and delicate.

3. You're Taller In the Morning

Did you know that between each of your vertebrae is some fluid that acts as a sponge or buffer, so the bones don't rub on one another? Over the day, the space between each vertebra reduces as your spine becomes more compressed.

In the morning, this fluid has had the chance to reset and become normal size again. So when you wake up, you'll be about 1cm taller than when you go to bed.

4. We Still Don't Know What Sleep Is

Sleep facts are fascinating, and the weirdest thing is, scientists still aren't sure what sleep is.

We know what happens when we sleep; our bodies rest, reset and filter out all the toxins they've come into contact with during the day. But why can't our brains do this while we're awake? 

Sleep is a fascinating phenomenon required by all mammals, and we still aren't entirely sure why.

5. Pus is Dead White Blood Cells

When your body wants to fight infection, it sends white blood cells to the area of infection to destroy it. Some of the tissue around the infected area dies during this process.

One of the weird facts for you to learn today is that pus is dead white blood cells combined with dead tissue.

6. Your Circulatory System Is Huge

You have hundreds of tiny blood vessels. If you were to lay out all your veins, arteries, and capillaries, they would stretch for 100,000 miles.

That's enough to wrap around the equator four times!

7. 70 Percent Of Your Immune System Is In the Gut

You've probably heard of the brain belly connection, but did you know that your immune system is based in the gut. It's where you produce all the disease-fighting bacteria.

A healthy, balanced gut microbiome usually means a healthy you. Remember, everything in the body is connected!

8. Your Skin Is Your Largest Organ

Your skin is about 20 square feet, and your body's first barrier of defense to disease and infection. The skin also helps regulate body temperature, the production of vitamins, and our ability to feel.

9. We Take 22,000 Breaths a Day

This is the average number of breaths an adult human takes each day. Most of us don't take full, deep breaths or use the full capacity of our lungs.

Deep breathing can help control mood, stress, and anxiety by stimulating the vagus nerve. This nerve is responsible for putting us into the state of rest and digest (the opposite of fight or flight!).

10. Blushing is Unique to Humans

No other animal blushes, only humans. But what happens when we blush? The emotions such as embarrassment cause the muscles in our face to relax.

Relaxed facial muscles widen the blood vessels, which causes more blood to flow there. This is why our face turns a little red or pink when we blush.

11. Your Jaw Is Your Strongest Muscle

Your masseter is the primary muscle of your jaw that you use to chew food. It's incredibly strong! When it works with your other jaw muscles, it can close with a force of 55 pounds. 

12. Your Liver Is the Only Organ That Can Completely Regenerate

Your liver filters toxins from your body. However, it's the only organ in your body that can completely regrow. If you have a damaged liver, you can make some lifestyle changes to help regenerate the tissue. 

13. The Femur Bone Is the Strongest In the Body

Your femur is the bone that allows you to stand. It supports your skeleton and the weight of your torso. It's connected to the hip at the top and the knee at the bottom. 

Use These Facts About the Human Body

Now you know some cool facts about the human body. Does it make you want to take better care of this fascinating system?

Taking care of our health is one of the easiest ways to maintain all the body's intricate functions. You can do that by eating well, sleeping well, exercising, and taking supplements.