9 Interesting Facts About the Human Body

You probably think you know everything there is to know about your own body. After all, you’ve been living with it your whole life! But the human body is actually a mystery in many ways. For example, did you know that the human body is home to trillions of bacteria? Or that your brain uses more energy than any other organ in your body? In this article, we’ll share 9 interesting facts about the human body that may just surprise you. So read on to learn more about the amazing machine that is your own body! 

1. Your Left Lung Is Roughly 10% Smaller Than The Right One

You might not know it, but your left lung is smaller than your right lung. This is because your heart takes up more space on the left side of your body, leaving less room for your left lung. As a result, the left lung is approximately 10% smaller than the right lung. While this may seem like a small difference, it can actually have a big impact on your overall health. For example, people who have a larger difference in the size of their left and right lungs are more likely to develop pneumonia. 

2. Human Teeth are as strong as Shark Teeth

Human teeth are pretty amazing. They’re made of enamel, which is the hardest substance in your body. In fact, your teeth are just as strong as shark teeth. Of course, you have to take care of them or they’ll break. 

Biting your fingernails is a bad idea because it can damage your enamel. Crunching on ice is also a no-no. But if you brush and floss regularly, your teeth will stay healthy and strong for years to come. So take care of those pearly whites!

3. Your Eyes Are Powerful Enough To Detect Light 1.7 miles Away

You probably take your eyesight for granted, but did you know that your eyes are actually amazing organs? For example, did you know that your eyes are so powerful they can detect light from a candle flame over 1.7 miles away? That’s right – your eyes are that powerful! In fact, your eyes are so complex that they contain more than 120 million receptor cells.

These cells are responsible for sending information to your brain at a rate of almost 400 miles per hour, which then interprets what you’re seeing. Amazingly, all of this happens in just a fraction of a second. 

4. Your Nose Is Capable Of Sensing a Trillion Scents

The nose is an incredible sensory organ and is capable of distinguishing between a trillion different scents. It plays a crucial role in everything from eating to emotions. When you sniff a particular scent, molecules travel through your nostrils and bind to receptors in your olfactory bulb. This signals the brain to create a smell perception. But how does the nose know which molecules to pay attention to? 

Scientists believe that each receptor is tuned to a specific range of frequencies, allowing it to identify different scents. This ability to discern between such a vast array of smells is what allows you to enjoy the subtle nuances of your favorite perfume or the aroma of freshly-baked cookies. 

 

5. Wrists Are More Susceptible To Injuries

Wrists play a big role in your everyday life. From typing on a keyboard to picking up a pencil, we use our wrists for a variety of tasks. However, the human wrist is more susceptible to fracture. The most common type of wrist fracture is a break in the radius, one of the two bones in the forearm. It is said that a normal wrist circumference for men is about 6 to 7 inches and can be damaged after a fall or by direct impact to the area. The common symptoms include pain, swelling, and bruising. With proper treatment, most people make a full recovery and regain full use of their wrists.

6. Acid Present In Stomach Can Even Dissolve Metals

The stomach produces hydrochloric acid, which is strong enough to break down food and kill bacteria. This acid is so potent that it can even corrode concrete and metals. The good news is that the lining of the stomach is protected by a mucus membrane, which helps to neutralize the acid and prevent it from causing damage to the stomach itself. 

7. Bones Are As Strong As Steel

Incredibly, human bones are actually as strong as steel! This is because bones are made up of a mix of minerals, including calcium and phosphorus. These minerals give bones their hardness, which helps them to resist breaking under pressure. What’s more, bones are constantly renewing themselves. Every few years, our bodies replace the bone cells that have died, meaning that our bones are always strong and healthy. 

8. When Laid Out, Blood Vessels Could Circle The Earth’s equator Four Times 

You have close to 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body! This means, that if you cut all the arteries, veins, and capillaries and laid them end to end, they would stretch close to 60,000 miles. That’s enough to circle the earth’s equator almost four times. 

That’s a lot of distance for something that’s just carrying blood around. But without blood vessels, your blood wouldn’t be able to circulate properly and you would quickly become very ill. It’s no wonder that keeping these vessels healthy is so important to your overall health. Luckily, your body is constantly working to repair any damage and keep your blood flowing smoothly.

 

9. Humans Lose Around 4kg of Skin Cells Every Year

Every year, you lose around 4kg of skin cells. That’s a lot of dead skin! That’s the weight of two large cans of soup! In fact, your skin is constantly shedding itself and regenerating. The largest organ in our bodies is the skin, and it’s made up of many layers. 

The outermost layer is the one that we can see, and it’s called the epidermis. The epidermis is constantly regenerating, which is why our skin is always renewed. The next layer down is the dermis, which contains blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, and other structures. 

The dermis also gives the skin its strength and elasticity. Finally, there is the subcutaneous layer, which consists of fat and connective tissue. Together, these layers make up the human skin.

You now know 9 interesting facts about the human body that you didn’t know before. This information should help you have a deeper appreciation for your own body and all that it does for you. The human body is an amazing machine, and these 9 facts are just a small glimpse into all of the incredible things that it can do.