Why do we cry? The three types of tears - Alex Gendler | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Iris produces three types of tears for different purposes, including basal tears, reflex tears, and emotional tears, showcasing the complex nature of crying.

Key Insights

• 😃 Basal tears consist of three layers that protect the eyes and maintain eye health by keeping them hydrated, repelling bacteria, and preventing damage.
• 😃 Reflex tears are triggered by irritants like chemicals or particles, containing more antibodies to cleanse the eyes and protect against microorganisms.
• 😂 Emotional tears are produced in response to intense emotions, potentially serving as a social mechanism to signal emotional states and elicit sympathy from others.
• 😢 The different types of tears produced by Iris showcase the intricate biological mechanisms involved in crying and their role in maintaining overall well-being.
• 😂 The breakup with Onion triggers Iris to shed emotional tears, which may contain stress hormones and natural painkillers for mood stabilization and emotional regulation.
• 😃 Understanding the complex nature of tears sheds light on how they serve multiple functions, from eye protection to emotional expression and mood regulation.
• 😂 The continuous production of basal tears contrasts with the reflex and emotional tears, highlighting how different triggers lead to varying tear compositions and purposes.

Transcript

Our story is about a girl named Iris. Iris is very sensitive. (Bird cawing) So much that she is always in tears. She cries when she's sad, when she's happy, (Godzilla roars) and even tears up when things just get to her. She has special lacrimal glands to make new tears and special tubes, called lacrimal puncta, to drain old ones away. And she crie... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the three layers that make up the coating of basal tears on Iris's eyes?

The basal tears consist of a mucus layer, an aqueous layer, and a lipid layer. The mucus layer keeps the coating attached to Iris, the aqueous layer hydrates her eyes and repels bacteria, while the lipid layer prevents evaporation and maintains a smooth surface.

Q: How do reflex tears differ from basal tears in terms of their purpose and composition?

Reflex tears are released in larger amounts to wash away harmful substances or particles and contain more antibodies. They are triggered by irritants like the gas released by Onion's sulfoxides, unlike the continuous production of basal tears for eye protection.

Q: Why do emotional tears play a role in stabilizing mood and calming Iris down after the breakup?

Emotional tears, triggered by intense emotions like sadness or happiness, contain higher stress hormone levels like ACTH and enkephalin. These tears help regulate mood, potentially signaling emotional states to others and providing a calming effect through the release of natural painkillers.

Q: How do the different types of tears produced by Iris contribute to her overall health and well-being?

Basal tears protect Iris's eyes from dirt and damage, reflex tears wash away irritants, while emotional tears help stabilize mood and potentially alleviate stress through hormone release. The combination of these tears maintains a balance for Iris's health.

Summary

In this video, we learn about a girl named Iris who is very sensitive and cries a lot. We discover that Iris produces basal tears constantly to keep her eyes protected and hydrated. Additionally, we find out about reflex tears that are released in larger amounts to wash away harmful substances. When Iris meets a girl named Onion and has an allergic reaction to her jacket, she starts weeping uncontrollably. Eventually, they decide to break up, and Iris starts crying emotional tears, which help stabilize her mood. These tears may serve as a social mechanism and contain stress hormones that can calm her down.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does Iris cry so much?

Iris is very sensitive, and she cries when she's sad, happy, or even when things just get to her. She has special lacrimal glands and lacrimal puncta that allow her to produce and drain tears effectively. Iris goes through ten ounces of tears per day, thirty gallons a year, and she seems to be crying a little bit all the time.

Q: What are basal tears and what do they do?

Basal tears are constantly produced by Iris to form a thin coating of three layers that cover her eyes. The first layer is the mucus layer, which keeps the other layers attached to her eyes. Above it is the aqueous layer that hydrates Iris, repels bacteria, and protects her cornea. The last layer is the lipid layer, an oily film that keeps the surface smooth and prevents evaporation of the other layers.

Q: What are reflex tears and how are they different from basal tears?

Reflex tears are different from basal tears in terms of their purpose and composition. They are released in larger amounts to wash away harmful substances or particles. The aqueous layer of reflex tears contains more antibodies to combat microorganisms. These tears are designed to provide extra protection and are triggered by irritants or allergens.

Q: Why does Iris start weeping uncontrollably when Onion takes off her jacket?

When Onion takes off her jacket, a chemical reaction occurs, converting the sulfoxides that make her smell great into syn-Propanethial S-oxide, a nasty gas. This gas stings Iris's eyes, causing her to produce reflex tears in large amounts to wash the irritant away. The tears contain more antibodies and are meant to protect her eyes from potential harm.

Q: What happens when Iris starts crying emotional tears?

Emotional tears are sent to stabilize the mood as quickly as possible when someone is either too sad or too happy. Along with physical reactions like an increased heart rate and slower breathing, the tears help regulate Iris's emotions and bring her back to balance. Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, emotional tears may serve as a social mechanism and contain stress hormones that can calm her down.

Q: Can emotional tears be beneficial and how do they differ from other tears?

While the exact benefits of emotional tears are not fully understood, studies suggest they may have several purposes. Emotional tears may act as a social mechanism to elicit sympathy or show submission. Additionally, these tears contain stress hormones like ACTH and enkephalin, which is an endorphin and natural painkiller. Therefore, emotional tears can help calm Iris down and also signal her emotional state to others.

Q: Why did Onion and Iris break up?

Iris and Onion decided to break up because Iris would experience an allergic reaction every time Onion took off her jacket. This caused Iris to weep uncontrollably due to the chemical reaction from sulfoxides converting into syn-Propanethial S-oxide, a gas that irritates her eyes. The constant discomfort and emotional distress led them to conclude that they couldn't continue their relationship.

Q: How do tears help keep Iris balanced and healthy?

Tears, in their various forms, play a crucial role in keeping Iris balanced and healthy. Basal tears constantly protect her eyes by forming a three-layered coating. Reflex tears wash away harmful substances and contain more antibodies to prevent microorganisms from entering her eyes. Emotional tears serve to stabilize Iris's mood by regulating her emotions and may have additional calming effects through stress hormones.

Q: What might be the purpose of crying and tears in general?

Crying and tears, particularly emotional tears, may serve several purposes. They can be a social mechanism to elicit sympathy or indicate emotional vulnerability. Additionally, emotional tears have been found to contain higher levels of stress hormones, which may contribute to a sense of relief and calmness. While scientists are not entirely sure of the exact mechanisms, crying and tears appear to have physiological and psychological effects.

Q: Will things get better for Iris after breaking up with Onion?

Yes, things will get better for Iris even though she has experienced a difficult breakup with Onion. As long as she has all three types of tears - basal tears, reflex tears, and emotional tears - working to keep her balanced and healthy, she will be able to navigate her emotions and recover from the emotional distress caused by the breakup.

Takeaways

Tears play a vital role in our emotional and physical well-being. Basal tears protect our eyes by forming layers to keep them hydrated and free from debris. Reflex tears are released in response to irritants to wash them away and offer extra protection. Emotional tears help stabilize our mood and potentially have stress-relieving properties. While crying can be a sign of vulnerability, it also serves important functions for our overall well-being.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Iris constantly produces basal tears that form a protective coating on her eyes, made up of three layers.

• Meeting Onion triggers Iris to produce reflex tears, designed to wash away harmful substances with larger amounts and more antibodies.

• The emotional tears Iris sheds after the breakup serve to stabilize her mood and may contain stress hormones for calming effects.