alywindows3

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Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex in c/science@lemmy.world
[–] alywindows3@feddit.org 5 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Lmao, new evolutionary hypothesis unlocked! Thankfully the actual biology is slightly more dignified than that haha.

Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex in c/science@lemmy.world
[–] alywindows3@feddit.org 2 points 1 hour ago

Haha, unfortunately it's strictly controlled by the autonomic nervous system (same system as goosebumps and pupil dilation), so voluntary control is locked out. Would make a wild party trick though!

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Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex (www.oddlyclear.com)
 

Common myth: skin wrinkles in water because of osmosis/swelling.

Reality: it is an active, involuntary vasomotor response. The nervous system constricts blood vessels under the skin to form ridges—acting like tire treads to channel away water and improve grip on wet objects. Patients with severed median nerves don't wrinkle at all.

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TIL the "lump in your throat" before crying (globus sensation) isn't swelling — it happens because your fight-or-flight system forces your vocal cords wide open for oxygen while you try to swallow (www.oddlyclear.com)