Five Common Misconceptions About The Human Body

1 Humans have more than Five Sense. Although the numbers vary, in the scientific community it is widely regarded that humans have at least 9 senses and even sometimes as many as 20 senses. As well as the main five: Sight, Touch, Hearing, Smell, Taste, humans also have senses such as equilibrioception (the ability to sense balance), nociception (detect pain) among many, many others. Some other sense which are sometimes listed include the sense of time, itching, hunger, thirst and blood carbon dioxide levels.

2 Hair and Fingernails do not defy death. Contrary to popular belief, your nails and your hair do not continue to grow after a person dies. Rather, this apparent action is caused by the drying and shrinking of skin away from the base of both the hair and the nails, which gives both the appearance of growth.

3 Vaccines do not cause autism. This scare was fueled by false and fraudulent research, and resulted in thousands of children not receiving vaccines which could have saved them from simply illnesses and as a result several thousand children are known to have died. The researcher, Andrew Wakefield, was revealed by the sicentific community as being fraudulent and had his license revoked.

4 Fever does not damage the body. The common misconception that a fever can damage the human brain or the human body if left untreated has incited fear in many parents that their children are in danger. In fact, a fever is actually a sign that the immune system is working and doing its job properly. However, it is important to remember the difference between a Fever, and Extreme Fever. Extreme fever has temperatures greater than 41.5 degress Celsius or 106.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be very harmful if left untreated.

5 Heat loss is not greatest through the head. It is commonly (and incorrectly) believed that the head results in the largest losses of heat from the body. In fact, heat loss through the head is no greater than any other part of the body. This statement is a generalisation born from times when it is true, due to the fact that in most cases the head is left naked while the body is clothed. In identical circumstances (ie: fully covered, or fully naked), heat loss through the head is no more significant than any other body part.