Human bodily functions and regulatory mechanisms. Structures belong in Anatomy; immune mechanisms belong in Immunology; clinical treatment belongs in Medicine.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Which American is listed by Guinness World Records for hiccuping nonstop for 68 years?
Osborne's hiccups finally stopped in 1990, about a year before his death, and no remedy he tried ever broke the spell.
What is the medical term for hiccups?
The Latin word describes a gasp or sob, which is the sound a hiccup spell resembles.
Swallowing a spoonful of granulated sugar is a traditional folk remedy for which ailment?
The sugar spoonful sits among folk cures like holding your breath and being startled, none of which has been proven in trials.
Which reflex do unborn babies often perform months before taking their first breath?
Some pregnant people feel fetal hiccups as a soft, rhythmic pulse, unlike the sharper bumps of kicks.
In furry mammals, goosebumps raise hairs to trap what near the skin?
Humans have too little body hair for this response to provide much insulation.
In goosebumps, the medical term "piloerection" describes which change?
Smooth muscles at hair follicles work automatically, unlike the muscles you use to lift an arm.
The name "goosebumps" compares human skin to a goose after which process?
The bumps on a plucked goose mark where feathers grew, just as human goosebumps form around hair follicles.
Why can raised fur during goosebumps help a furry mammal deter a predator?
A frightened cat fluffs its tail using the same hair-raising reflex that humans retain as goosebumps.
Which sensation commonly triggers goosebumps?
Strong emotions can trigger the same reflex, which is why a moving song can raise the hairs on your arms.
During a fever, what happens to the body's target temperature?
The body can conserve heat by narrowing skin blood vessels, helping reach the higher target.