How Many Holes Does a Human Have? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The human body can be viewed as a seven-hole doughnut, with multiple through holes and blind holes.

Key Insights

• 🫀 The human body is not a solid object, but rather a collection of atoms and molecules that can permeate through various openings.
• 🕳️ Blind holes, such as pores and hair follicles, differ from through holes, like the gastrointestinal tract and nasal cavity, in their ability to allow for passage from one end to another.
• 🕳️ The number of through holes in the human body can be defined using topological principles, and variations in through holes can exist among individuals.

Transcript

hey Vsauce Michael here come on in if you keep going you will eventually emerge out my other end and for this reason it has been said that the human body is like a doughnut yeah you are just a bunch of meat packed around a central Hulk or are you humans have more than one hole right I mean we've got nostrils and ears the whole sweetpea out of the h... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the permeability of skin cells explain the taste of garlic in the mouth?

Skin cells are permeable to small molecules, like those that give garlic its taste. When garlic is rubbed on the skin, it can permeate skin cells, enter the bloodstream, and reach the mouth.

Q: What distinguishes blind holes from through holes in the human body?

Blind holes, like pores and hair follicles, can be entered but often dead end at narrow capillaries. Through holes, such as the gastrointestinal tract and nasal cavity, allow for passage from one end to another.

Q: Can the human body have more than seven through holes?

Yes, additional through holes can be present based on individual differences. Supernumerary lacrimal punctum and accessory ostia in the sinuses are examples of additional through holes that some people may have.

Q: How can we define holes in the human body?

Holes in the human body can be defined in a topological sense, where homeomorphisms (gentle continuous transformations) are used to determine the number of holes. Through holes are distinct from blind holes, which can be eradicated through homeomorphisms.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The human body is not a solid object and can be seen as a loose constellation of atoms and molecules.

• At small scales, the concept of holes becomes meaningless, as the human body is permeable to various molecules.

• The human body has millions of blind holes, such as pores and hair follicles, but it also has seven through holes, including the gastrointestinal tract and nasal cavity.