Why do Men Have Nipples…and other Senseless Information Everyone Needs to Know…

1. Why do Men Have Nipples…and other Senseless Information Everyone Needs to Know… Submitted by Alex Fallon Resident Assistant Springfield College Springfield, MA

2. Why Do Men Have Nipples? • Both males and females start out in a similar way as an embryo, even though only females have mammary glands. • For the first six weeks of development the embryo follows a female template, then the male sex chromosome begins to kick in for a male embryo. • After the male sex chromosome kicks in the embryo begins to develop its male characteristics, but men are left with nipples as well as breast tissue. • It is actually possible for a male to develop breast cancer. There are also rare conditions which can cause male breasts to enlarge– like complications caused by anabolic steroids. The abnormal enlargement of breasts in a male is known as gynecomastia.

3. Why Do You Have an Appendix if You Can Live Without It? • The appendix is a small pouch off the large intestine. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue which is part of the immune system for making antibodies. • Removal of the appendix is not harmful since there are many other areas in the body that contain similar tissue, such as the spleen, lymph nodes, and tonsils. The spleen and tonsils can also be removed.

4. Can Carrots Help Improve Your Vision? • The myth stems from the British Royal Air Force in World War II attempting to mask a newly developed airborne radar system to shoot down German bombers. They bragged that the accuracy of British fighter pilots at night was a result of them being fed numerous amounts of carrots. • Carrots are rich in beta-carotene which is essential for sight. The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A. A deficiency in vitamin A can cause blindness. • If you’re not deficient in vitamin A your vision will not improve no matter how many carrots you eat.

5. Is It Dangerous to Pop Zits? • Zit popping can lead to complications. • Squeezing pimples can actually push the zit-causing bacteria further into the skin, causing more redness and swelling. It is also the most common cause of acne scarring. • A deadly complication from zit popping is called cavernous sinus thrombosis, a blood clot in the sinus cavity that runs between the sphenoid bone, and the temporal bone. • The real danger zone for zit popping is known as the triangle of death, it runs from the bridge of the nose to the corner of the mouth, to the width of the jaw. The veins in this area drain into the cavernous sinus and any severe infection in this area can cause cavernous sinus thrombosis.

6. Does Urinating on a Jellyfish Sting Stop the Burn? • Most jellyfish stings cause only pain and numbness. The Australian box jellyfish is the most venomous and deadly of all stinging marine creatures, 20% of those stung by the box jellyfish will die. • In laboratory tests, urine, ammonia, and alcohol can cause active stinging cells to fire, which means applying them can make a minor sting worse. So urinating on a jellyfish sting is both gross and painful. • What to do: 1. Remove any visible tentacles, using gloves if possible. 2. The area of the sting should be rinsed with household vinegar liberally. The acetic acid of vinegar will block the discharge of the nematocysts (stinging cells) on the skin. If vinegar is not available, salt water can be used.

7. Will Putting Someone In The Shower or Giving Him or Her Coffee Sober Them Up? • Time is the only thing that will sober up a drunk person. Coffee, showers, exercise, sweating it out, fresh air, or any other method will not increase the rate at which alcohol is eliminated from the body. The liver just needs time to metabolize the alcohol.

8. Is It True That You Have to Wait a Half Hour After Eating To Go Swimming? • There is no medical evidence that supports waiting thirty minutes before getting back in the pool. • Digestion begins as soon as you put food in your mouth; however, once it reaches your stomach it takes about four hours to process completely. Then food goes to the small intestine for two hours, then the large intestine for another fourteen hours. These times vary by what you eat. • While there is no medical evidence supporting the thirty minutes, blood is diverted from the muscles to the stomach to aid in digestion. During exercise digestion slows down since the blood is then diverted to the muscles. • Use your head and listen to the body’s signals. If you feel pain, cramping, or severe fatigue when swimming, get out, and please don’t puke in the pool.

9. Source Leyner, Mark, and William Goldberg, M.D.. Why Do Men Have Nipples?. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2005.