Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [physiology]

Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems within systems.

Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems within systems.

Physiology is closely related to anatomy; anatomy is the study of form, and physiology is the study of function. Due to the frequent connection between form and function physiology and anatomy are intrinsically linked and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.

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Can humans have extra vertebrae without noticing them?

In an answer to How important is it that a person be able to touch their toes?, someone said that they found out they had an extra vertebra from their chiropractor. I'm skeptical about their specific claim if it's based on an evidence-challenged…
Andrew Grimm
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Does long-term use of MDMA ("Ecstasy") cause cognitive impairment?

The MDMA page of Wikipedia currently states: A meta-analytic review of the published literature on memory show that ecstasy users may suffer short-term and long-term verbal memory impairment—with 70–80% of ecstasy users displaying impaired memory.…
Kevin
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Are most women incapable of orgasm through vaginal stimulation alone?

In Wikipedia's article of Orgasm it suggests vaginal stimulation isn't sufficient for women's sexual pleasure: Kinsey found that most of the women he surveyed could not have vaginal orgasms.[59] He "criticized Freud and other theorists for…
Mehdi Haghgoo
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Does orgasm trigger menstruation?

Wikipedia states, without a particularly satisfying source, that: Some sources say that achieving orgasm helps the uterus contract and expel the lining. It does quote some other opinions there, though quick Googling yields people who buy this…
margish
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Does the human appendix have a purpose, or is it more of an evolutionary leftover?

The "classic" explanation I was always taught at school for the appendix was that it probably once had a purpose and may have assisted with the digestion of cellulose, but is now just a redundant feature. However, some sources now seem to imply it…
berry120
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Are women more sensitive to high-pitched noises than men?

On Season 1, Episode 2 of The Big Bang Theory, characters Sheldon and Leonard are sneaking around in Penny's room. In order not to wake her, Sheldon warns Leonard to be careful to make pitched noises. He states: Evolution has made women sensitive…
isJustMe
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Are there people who can't get high on marijuana?

I smoked my head off and can't feel anything. And my friends can get high just by breathing all the smoke in the room :) Someone told me that I need to try more and get used to it, and it will happen at some point. On Yahoo Answers I read that…
Alex
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Do long married couples look more alike?

Most of the articles to prove this I can find quote a 1987 study which found Couples who originally bore no particular resemblance to each other when first married had, after 25 years of marriage, come to resemble each other, although the…
JoseK
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Are physically attractive people more likely to be right wing politically?

The Guardian recently reported this: It is a finding unlikely to prove popular with Guardian readers, but a study has concluded that attractive people are more likely to be rightwing. The study has been widely reported elsewhere. The text of the…
matt_black
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Are there incorruptible corpses?

The Roman Catholic Church claims that some corpses have supernaturally slow decomposition. Were those bodies examined by skeptics?
Jader Dias
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Do long-haired men have better intuition?

I found an article on Worldwide Hippies which describes a military experiment on the intuitive abilities of Native American trackers: Then they would pair two men together who had received the same scores on all the tests. They would let one man in…
user16405
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Can egg shells be digested?

I tried Googling but got no significant trustworthy result in the top few searches. The only reference I found is here: where the answered has guaranteed it without any reference! Yes Egg shell is made from calcium and the hydrochloric acid that…
Mistu4u
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Does hugging a romantic partner for 20 seconds cause an Oxytocin spike?

So I've been seeing a claim around a lot lately in various articles and "amazing fact" lists. Positive Psychology News is one example: after only 20 seconds of hugging a romantic partner, one can achieve a spike in oxytocin levels They cite a TED…
Omnomnomnom
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Do your taste buds change every seven years?

Twice in the last week I've heard and re-stated the 'fact' that your taste buds change every seven years. Example of claim: All Expert's Science for Kids Taste Buds change every 5 to 7 years and during these tansitional (sic) periods (lasting up to…
Mark Mayo
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Is it possible to stick a nail into your nose?

A friend showed me the following video a few minutes ago. He says that it's real, but I can't believe that actually. What do you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z4h4Mxq_ys The video show some guy hammering a nail into his nose.
LMW-HH
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