The navel, as if it has always been a representative of the mysterious organ of the human body:
Some say it is attached to the intestines;
Some people say that when you pick it, you want to pee;
Some people also say that if you pick your belly button, your stomach will leak;
What is the matter with such a "supernatural" belly button?
Are these rumors true? Today's doubts about the navel are cleared up at once!
Not really.
The navel is the equivalent of our "first scar" after birth.
While we are still in the womb, we receive oxygen and nutrients from the mother through the umbilical cord.
After birth, the umbilical cord loses its function and doctors cut it. The umbilical cord stump gradually shrinks, falls off, heals, and eventually forms the navel.
As a result, the navel is a mediocre scar with no special function, and it is not attached to the intestines, but only next to the peritoneum that surrounds the internal organs [1].
So, the navel and the internal organs seem to be close together, but they don't really have anything to do with each other.
This relationship is like Brother Dian and Yanzu, they both seem to have noses and eyes, but in fact they have nothing to do with it.
Usually, although there are not many opportunities for the navel to "show its face", it still can't resist the fate of "involution"-
Even if it's a scar, it's a battle of beauty and ugliness!
(Different navel shapes Source: Ref. [2])
But the shape of the navel really has nothing to do with the doctor's technique of cutting the umbilical cord.
Even if the umbilical cord is tied into a Chinese knot, it still has to go through the process of atrophy and falling off in the end, not to mention that most hospitals now directly clamp the umbilical cord with clips and do not tie the knot.
(来源:soogif)
The shape of the navel is mainly related to factors such as healing speed, intra-abdominal pressure, and acquired fat.
After the umbilical cord stump falls off, the original place is like a "hole", and the skin next to the umbilical cord wound will slowly grow flesh from both sides to the middle to fill the "hole".
In most cases, the flesh grows to about the same height as other skin tissues and stops, turning into a concave navel.
However, if the meat grows in a hurry, or the child is very crying, and the intra-abdominal pressure is very high at that time, then it may become a convex navel.
And if the subcutaneous fat is thicker, the navel is also more likely to be "buried" in the flesh, and it will also appear deeper.
When summer arrives, there are more and more hot girls wearing crop tops on the street.
But many people may have heard their elders say repeatedly since they were young - showing their belly button will catch a cold!
Actually, this is not accurate.
The navel is not particularly "sensitive" or "fragile". Usually everyone says that the navel is cold, but in fact, it is the whole stomach that is cold. Cold irritation may increase bowel movements, leading to diarrhea symptoms.
If you don't believe it, if you cover your belly button alone to expose your belly, you may also have diarrhea.
(来源:soogif)
The inner folds of the navel are nine curves and eighteen bends, and it is easy to hide dirt and dirt.
The cells shed by the skin, sweat, dust, and sebum are all hidden inside, which makes it easy for bacteria to settle down.
A study that analyzed the microbiota of the navel of 60 people found more than 2,000 bacteria within the navel [3].
In the navel of a man who claims to have not bathed in years, researchers have discovered for the first time three species of "archaea" (the third life form different from bacteria and eukaryotes) that have never been found on human skin before[3], which can be regarded as an "outstanding" contribution to scientific research by people who do not like bathing......
If it's so dirty, shouldn't you have to pick it out often?
In fact, although the navel "hides dirt and dirt", there is no need to be particularly afraid, let alone pick it often.
Many of these bacteria are staphylococcus, corynebacterium, and bacillus, which are common on the skin, and are usually harmless when left in the navel [3].
However, if there are too many of them, they may produce odors. At this time, it is better to clean up.
Many people think that the most direct way to clean the navel is to pick it with your hands - but this can easily break the skin, which can lead to bacterial infection, causing omphalitis, and may also irritate the nerves of the internal organs, making people feel uncomfortable in the intestines.
Therefore, although picking the navel will not rot the intestines, it is not recommended that everyone pick it when they are fine.
To clean the navel properly, you can use a cotton swab dipped in water or alcohol and rub it gently.
(Remember: "gently" is the point)
If the dirt inside the navel is already very hard, you can put a few drops of grease (such as olive oil) into it first, and when the dirt has softened, then gently rub it with a cotton swab.
When washing your belly button, you must pay attention to:
Don't push too hard
Clean with warm water
Keep your navel dry after washing
If the navel odor does not disappear after washing, or there are symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching, and pus, it indicates that there may be an umbilical cord infection and it is recommended to seek medical attention.
When many people pick their navel, in addition to being sour, they will also have a feeling of wanting to pee.
At present, it is generally believed that there may be two reasons:
During the embryonic stage, the umbilical urethral tube is connected to the bladder and is responsible for the excretion of waste products from the fetus. After cord clamping, the urethral catheter becomes a non-functioning median umbilical ligament, but the nerve connection to the bladder remains, and these nerves are stimulated to produce urinary intent when the navel is picked [4].
The part of the abdominal cavity that corresponds to the navel is called the parietal peritoneum, and poking the navel with a finger stimulates the parietal peritoneum, and the sensory nerve fibers of the parietal peritoneum transmit the stimulation to the spinal cord.
Coincidentally, this part of the spinal cord also happens to receive signals from the bladder and urethra.
The sensation produced by the two is almost the same – the urge to urinate [5].
(Source: Tencent Medical Codex)