@thepowerwithin / thepowerwithin.tumblr.com
Quick fact. Ready? The contraction of a whole muscle is actually the summation of the shortening of thousands of sarcomeres.
Sarco-what? A sarcomere is a component of muscle fibres that is formed by overlapping muscle contractile proteins.
Long story short; this tiny, repetitive structure within our muscles all shorten at once, causing a contraction.
Weird.
Quick fact. Ready? Our arteries are made up of three main layers. The innermost layer contains endothelial cells, The middle layer is smooth muscle, While the outermost layer is mainly elastic connective tissue. And even that is a simplified version of it. Isn't the human body so complex?
Quick fact. Ready? Normally, there are nine times more bacteria in the human gut than there are cells in the whole human body! Now THAT’S pretty insane.
More wonderful facts for you here, friend!
Quick fact. Ready? There are many muscle fibres within your muscle. Each 'twitch' from a muscle fibre produces a set amount of force. When these twitches occur rapidly, there begins to be a summation of force in which the force that is produced continuously increases. This progresses until the muscle reaches its maximum force output, and must then stop its muscle fibres from twitching.
Quick fact. Ready? Chewing our food sends signals to the rest of the digestive system to prepare itself for a meal; it then responds by releasing our digestive enzymes.
More wonderful facts for you here, friend!
Quick fact. Ready? There is a certain genetic variation that exists in some people in which eating asparagus causes their urine to have a very unpleasant odour. Why does this happen in some? It has to do with a genetic defect in one of the enzymes in their body's detoxification system. Mind blowing, isn't it?
Quick fact. Ready? One of the main ligaments on the bottoms of our feet is known as the 'spring ligament.' This is right around where our feet arch the highest. It's very important when it comes to walking, for it helps to absorb the impact that it has on the body.
Quick fact. Ready? Probiotics are living bacteria that exist within your gut. They help to break down food, and ensure a healthy metabolism of proteins, carbs, and fats. One can get additional probiotics through some fermented vegetables, which help to contribute to one's gut health. However, the micro biome that one establishes within the first year after birth are the probiotics that stick around for one's entire life time. Any other ones that are consumed from food mainly only exist temporarily, for about a week.
Quick fact. Ready? Our very mitochondria, the power houses of our cells, have its own specific set of DNA known as mtDNA. This genetic material is different from all other cells in which it is only inherited from our mothers, not our fathers. How very strange.
Quick fact. Ready? When we breathe in cold weather, we are able to see our breath. Why? Because the air moving from the warmth of our lungs to the colder atmosphere makes its particles condense, thus making it visible to the human eye.
Quick fact. Ready? By measuring the speed at which an electrical current travels through the body, one can determine how much lean muscle vs. fat mass one has. How? Electricity travels faster through muscle than it does through fat tissue. Physiology of the body is just amazing, isn't it.
Quick fact. Ready? Cordyceps. Sounds like a strange enough name for a fungus, doesn't it? Well that's not all. This fungus forms by growing on the back of a caterpillar! It grows to be able 6 inches long before eating its host caterpillar by engulfing it. Now THATS pretty crazy.
Quick fact. Ready? While we are asleep, our brain goes into a 'detoxifying' mode, in which it washes away any debris that may have caught onto it. If one gets insufficient sleep, some of this plaque may remain on the brain, and one may experience more confusion and difficulty thinking if this chronic sleep deprivation persists.
Quick fact. Ready? Taking 2 mg of Vitamin C while sick with the common cold has been shown to reduce blood histamine levels. Histamine is a large contributor to the cold symptoms like coughing, sneezing, runny nose, etc.
