subject: 3 Dead Body Parts -- Not Counting Hair [print this page] Every school kid knows that hair is not aliveEvery school kid knows that hair is not alive. Thank goodness, or trips to the barber would be much more horrific than they are now.
But did you know that you carry around with you 3 other parts -- inside your body -- that are not alive?
And we aren't referring to last night's meatloaf.
1. Cartilage
Cartilage is similar in looks and feel to plastic (hence Plastic Surgery.) But it is actually the hardened secretions of a cell called chondrocyte, which lives in small pockets inside the cartilage.
Cartilage is quite strong but flexible. That's why our ears, nose and windpipe, all made of cartilage, will bend but snap back into place.
All made out of cell secretions. If that doesn't gross you out, try this one.
2. Bone
The hard part of the bone -- the white things you seen on skeletons at Halloween -- is a nonliving matrix of collagen and calcium phosphate.
However, the inside of the bones, the marrow, is very much alive. This is why when we break a bone, it will heal. The bone simply builds parts of itself.
This is also why exercise will help strengthen bones. The marrow "feels" the need to be stronger and builds more bone.
3. Tendons
Tendons are those hard, almost clear or white pieces you see at the ends of chicken legs or wings. They connect the muscles to the bones.
Tendons are made of millions of tropocollagen strands, each made of collagen fibers.
And they are not living.
Considering how many bones, tendons and pieces of cartilage we have -- when you add in hair, saliva, mucus and other obviously nonliving parts of you body -- you may be more dead than alive.
