12 Fantastic Facts About the Immune System
Without our immune system, we wouldn't last very long: this complex network of organs and cells fights off pathogens and helps maintain our health.
Without our immune system, we wouldn't last very long: this complex network of organs and cells fights off pathogens and helps maintain our health.
This self-soothing behavior is actually a pretty effective technique for temporarily calming pain signals to the brain. Here's how it works.
Things are not always as they seem.
5. Back pain may originate in your butt.
It's the thinnest part of the skull … which is why Maori warriors crafted a special weapon to crush it.
Its developers hope it sparks the next generation of total artificial hearts.
Thanks to binding her ribs in tight corsets, Guinness World Record holder Cathie Jung has a waist that is the same circumference as a jar of mayonnaise.
The pelvis is not actually a single body part, but a term that refers to a collection of bones, muscles and organs below the waist.
This mysterious little body part is a surprising source of controversy among researchers.
2. Hot testicles can cause health and fertility problems.
Smoking can cause breasts to droop, but breastfeeding doesn't.
You might think they're unnecessary, because so many people have had their tonsils removed—but tonsils actually serve an important role in your immune system.
Though you might not often think about them, lymph nodes are crucial for your immune system.
At its largest point, the sciatic nerve is about as big around as a man's thumb—plenty big enough to be an important part of the nervous system.
Without this crucial joint, many daily activities would be impossible.
Your stomach may very well be a key player in keeping your mood balanced.
3. Once a year, have a professional look at it.
Fat is actually an important organ.
This butterfly-shaped gland influences every cell in your body.
It runs a whole lot of functions on your behalf to keep you healthy.
Taking in oxygen to power your whole body is just one part of your lung function. Altogether, your lungs are a highly efficient machine—and they do a lot more than you might think.