Men and their bodies usually do not get the hype they deserve compared to the ladies. Male bodies are as unique and fascinating as their personalities and behavior. Following are the 5 fascinating things you never knew about the male body.
- Men can produce Milk (Lactate) like Women
There is a very common known perception that men as compared to women do not lactate i.e. they do not produce milk. However, you will be surprised to know that men under certain circumstances can and do lactate. Men are also born with the same mammary gland which is found in women. This gland is responsible for the production of milk, however, due to lack of some essential hormones such as prolactin in the male body; these mammary glands do not produce milk in normal circumstances.
However, certain special conditions can spark an increase in this hormone and can cause some men to lactate. These conditions may include extreme starvation, certain medications such as hormonal treatments, and other mechanical conditions. Since the mammary gland is located in the center of the pituitary gland, any disturbance to it can also cause this condition. It is followed by a condition which is also referred to as “gynecomastia” which is the enlargement of male breasts due to the imbalance of testosterone and estrogen hormone in the human body.
- Men do have Periods like symptoms
Although men do not have Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or more commonly known as periods like women, they do suffer from period-like symptoms which may include an array of conditions including but not limited to the fatigued body, cramps, depression, annoyances, mood swings, and hunger. All these conditions occur due to shifting levels of hormones within the male human body particularly of testosterone the level of which varies from morning to night or even from day today.
Some scientists have very firmly concluded that these changes to hormonal levels even in males are very regular to which they referred as period-like symptoms in men. A researcher and a psychotherapist, Mr. Jed Diamond, introduced this concept of Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS) while backing his work with the research that men too experience regular hormonal changes just like women, to which he referred them as “man-struation” or the “male period”
- Fewer Color Shades Visible to Men
Compared to a woman, a man can see fewer shades of colors because of a lack of retinal cells in their eyes compared to women.
One of the reasons cited for this phenomenon is that these retinal cells are found out on the X chromosomes, and since men have fewer i.e. just one X chromosome compared to two X chromosomes in women, the retinal cells are found to be less concentrated in male eyes.
An experiment conducted in young adults, and the outcome published in PubMed Advanced publication called “Gender-based alteration in color perception”.
The conclusion found that females perceive shades more vividly than men. Females took less time to distinguish different colors and gave more correct answers than their male competitors.
However, a higher level of testosterone hormone in the male human body, is also found on the surfaces of eyes. The male hormone responsible for capturing images, increasing the brightness of sight which is more than it can be found in a women’s vision.
Thus, it is due to the above reasons that women are generally well able to distinguish and differentiate colors than men, whereas due to the increased brightness in a men’s vision, they are better able to grasp fast-moving objects better than women can do.
- Different Skin for Men (Thicker, Tougher & Oilier)
You will be surprised to know that men usually have thicker skin than women. Some estimates given indicate that men’s skin is about twenty-five percent (25%), thicker skin than women. This thickness is due to the stimulation of the hormone, testosterone which is found in much higher levels in a male body than a female body. In addition to the thickness of the skin, the texture of the skin is also tougher for males when compared to females.
In addition to the above, men generally after reaching the puberty age have much oilier skin than women. The Sebum (oil) on the skin is greater in men, again due to the same reason which is testosterone hormone secretion which is found at much higher levels in males compared to females. Thus, it is due to the same reason that they have oilier skin and may have long-lasting acne problems compared to women.
- Men can Stay Warmer Easily
Ever wondered, why in the same room a man can feel warm or even hot compared to a woman who may think the temperature is just optimal? It is because; a man tends to stay warmer easily due to several reasons naturally within their human body. Firstly, men have more muscle; hence they tend to have a lower resting temperature than women, which may not be as muscular as most of the women.
Secondly, men have hormonal differences than women. For instance, the higher level of testosterone in men can desensitize the skin for temperature making them warmer than females, who can feel colder in the same environment because the estrogen hormone level in her body can make her feel colder especially during her menstrual days by slowing the blood flow to her body parts like hands and the feet. Additionally, men also have a higher metabolic rate which is the rate at which the calories are burning inside their body, a process which is also linked with generating heat and keeping the body warmer.
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- Better metabolism
Men eat a lot and still feel hungry faster. You may wonder why growing boys keep eating like termites, yet they remain skinny.
Well, this is to do with the key male hormone, testosterone. This hormone is responsible for bulkiness and masculinity. And while building more tissues, men use a lot of energy to power these muscles.
Even amongst men, metabolism rates vary. This is partly due to genetic predisposition, according to the “Metabolism” article appearing in the online publication Betterhealth.
Still, body size, muscle mass, and hormonal/nervous control influence the basal metabolic rate. Other factors responsible are environmental temperature, physical activities, and diet.
Men tend to have a larger proportion of, and greater exposure to all these factors than females do.
Thus they are in constant need of energy to fuel these lean muscle tissues. Even when men are just sitting down doing nothing, they continue churning through their energy reserves, ensuring that their metabolism is active.
Another reason for the high rate of metabolism is the need to keep their body temperature down. Men have a lower resting body temperature, using more energy per day to stay cool.
Hence men can power through chilly weather lightly dressed. This is why they keep complaining of the room being hot yet women swear that the air conditioning is working just well.
- Men see differently
You may have heard of the phrase that most men are color blind. This is true to some extent.
The retina in the eyes distinguishes colors more vividly. But the photo-chromatic pigmentation from the retina cones is found in the X chromosome.
Women have two of these chromosomes making them twice as likely to distinguish even the slight hues in a color. On the contrary, men just have one X, thus they have lesser retina cone concentration.
A test undertaken on younger men and women to establish this phenomenon was published in the journal Biology of Sex Difference.
It found that men use longer wavelengths during the vision, which highlight warmer colors. Thus men see the color orange as more reddish, while women see the color green as more yellowish.
Still, men can’t distinguish shades at the center of the color spectrum.
However, men quickly and accurately deciphered fast-moving objects. They got better details from a thinner faster flushing bar within a bank of flashing lights from great distances.
Testosterone helps men to have a larger visual cortex.
- Dark hair
You may think deeply to count men with light hair since most of them have darker hair. But not all are born this way.
You may even wonder why you had light hair as a child in the family portrait. This then changes to black hair without any notice.
According to a report published on the health website, men are more likely to have more dark hair after puberty. This situation remains the same due to the introduction of androgen secretion.
Since men produce more androgen than women, they are likely to don thick dark hair. The growth isn’t limited to their head but could cover their chests and arms.
But hormones have a lot to do with these gradual hair color transformations. During puberty, boys start secreting testosterone. With more testosterone, a greater volume of melatonin is produced.
Serotonin stems from serotonin through a series of enzyme reactions. It’s produced in the pineal glands of your brain.
When you are young, you don’t have melatonin but get it from your mother’s placenta and breastfeeding. After three months, you start secreting this darkness hormone.
By the time you reach puberty, you have reached the peaks of melatonin production. It’s here when your hair turns darker for good.
But from the late teenage, melatonin production stabilizes until you reach the 40s when the production starts dwindling gradually.
- Strong facial feature
Another feature that you see in most men but ignore is the prominent face. Men have strong jaws, large cheeks, and higher brows.
So their faces tend to be larger than those of women. Obviously, you will mention that they are larger beings, which is true.
Typical women have rounded faces, small chins, and even smaller noses. But their cheeks are more defined and flow acutely towards their chins. Still, this profile appears more rounded.
Yet the female lips are fuller and softer when compared to men’s mouths.
But all these masculine features are the work of the male sex hormones. According to a publication posted at the Frontier of Psychology, manly features are intended to attract females.
Thick eyebrows, prominent jaws, and long faces are all factors of masculinity. This hormone is responsible for a man’s facial bone structure.
Men with high testosterone levels tend to have a more prominent jawline.
- Different penis
Men have one of the largest penises in the animal kingdom. When compare to gorillas which are twice the average man’s weight and built, humans are generally well endowed.
In the womb, the penis is similar to the clitoris and they share the same embryonic tissues. The penis appears after the third trimester.
Still, the penis may have evolved long ago to be distinct from that of other animals. This evolution is primarily to become better equipped to face fertility competition.
Your penis has a huge gland for a reason. A study published in Evolutionary Psychology mentions that a man’s penis may have evolved due to competition for sperm placement.
The penis head is wide and bulbous to help displace the sperm it finds in the cervical part of the vagina. When he eventually ejaculates, the gland would have extracted all the prior semen from this area, ensuring that it’s your sperm that rests closest to the egg.
In conclusion, we have provided details regarding the five fascinating things you might have never known about the male body. We hope that with the provided information, you can learn more about your or your partner’s body.
SIMILAR QUESTION
What I Should Know About A Man’s Body?
Introduction
The male body is an incredible and complex thing, and there is so much that can be learned about it. From the basic anatomy to the complex biological systems that make it possible for us to live and function, understanding the male body is essential for men to maintain their health. This paper will explore the various aspects of a man’s body, including the anatomy, systems and organs that make up the human body, as well as the lifestyle habits that can help keep it running optimally.
Anatomy
The male body is composed of a variety of different organs and systems that work together to keep the body functioning. The most basic of these is the skeletal system, which is composed of bones, ligaments, and cartilage. Bones provide support and structure for the body, and they also protect the organs and muscles that are housed within them. The ligaments and cartilage help to keep the bones together and provide stability.
The muscular system is composed of the muscles that move the body. These muscles can be broken down into three categories: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles. Skeletal muscles are responsible for moving the body, while smooth muscles are responsible for controlling involuntary body movements, such as the digestive system or heart rate. Cardiac muscles are responsible for contracting the heart and keeping it beating.
The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The heart pumps blood throughout the body, while the lungs provide oxygen to the blood. The blood vessels transport blood to and from the heart and lungs.
The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food and extracting nutrients from it. This system is composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The mouth, esophagus, and stomach are responsible for breaking down food and extracting nutrients from it, while the small and large intestine are responsible for absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste.
The nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This system is responsible for controlling the body’s response to stimuli and sending signals throughout the body. The brain is responsible for making decisions and processing information, while the spinal cord and nerves are responsible for sending and receiving signals.
Lifestyle Habits
In order to keep the body running optimally, men should practice good lifestyle habits. This includes getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. Sleep helps to keep the body rested and energized, while a healthy diet ensures that the body is getting the nutrients it needs to function properly. Exercise helps to keep the body strong and can help ward off illnesses.
Men should also practice good hygiene habits, such as washing their hands regularly and brushing their teeth. This helps to keep the body clean and free of bacteria and viruses that can cause illness. Additionally, men should practice safe sex in order to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the male body is essential for men to maintain their health. The anatomy, systems, and organs that make up the body are complex and diverse, and understanding them can help men to make informed decisions about their health. Additionally, practicing good lifestyle habits, such as getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly, can help keep the body running optimally.
