Hello! I am leading an Anatomy & Physiology study group for homeschooled teens. The aim is to work at the advanced high school level, but I'm using a college textbook (Thibodeau & Patton), as the illustrations and charts are more useful, and it might come in handy for them for later reference. But I'm not sure how deep to delve. [more inside]
posted by houseofdanie on Oct 21, 2009 - 2 answers

What is the most important scientific question of our time? [more inside]
posted by Demogorgon on Oct 12, 2009 - 44 answers

Something that's always had me a bit curious: how is what's happening to the breasts of the female skydivers in this image that's circulated around the 'Net (NSFW) even anatomically possible? [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Aug 3, 2009 - 10 answers

Why don't adults enjoy dizziness like kids do? When I was a kid I remember thinking adults were boring for not enjoying the feeling of dizziness, and I vowed to always enjoy it :) Now as an adult, I can't stand it, and feel like throwing up. It seems most adults (if not all) feel the same way. Why is that?
posted by ivanv on May 31, 2009 - 33 answers

I thought my cat had just _finished_ her first heat and made a vet appointment to have her spayed tomorrow. Well, guess who started yowling and moving her tail sideways to display feline private parts?! Should I keep tomorrow's appointment and have her spayed _during_ her heat, or should I wait? [more inside]
posted by bunky on Mar 22, 2009 - 12 answers

Hi, I only have 1 1/2 years till I'm completely done my undergraduate nutrition degree in Canada. I've already established that I want to pursue a masters, however, the only school I have been checking online is Columbia's Department of Nutrition because it is the only school I can think of which offers a decent program. Is it true? If not, does anyone have any good suggestions (NA, Europe, Asia)? [more inside]
posted by pixxie on Dec 29, 2008 - 11 answers

Are there any good DVDs or books that teach you exercise as a way of understanding and having fun with your body? I'm looking for a system whose focus is not primarily on losing weight or being healthy but on learning about your body and being able to do cool things with it you couldn't do before (gain better balance, stand on your head, improve your ability to drag furniture even), but that would also incidentally give you an excellent workout. Ideas?
posted by shivohum on Jul 2, 2008 - 13 answers

Why are sine waves considered "pure" tones? Why do we consider sinusoids the building blocks of periodic functions? [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Jun 28, 2008 - 35 answers

Is there a physiological response to certain phrases in music? [more inside]
posted by slo on Jun 26, 2008 - 13 answers

On Thursday morning, I'm taking my final exam in Anatomy & Physiology II. I typically have test anxiety, and this time, it's reaching fever pitch. What are your favorite little mnemonics and/or rules of thumb that you rely upon in order to remember... uh, everything? [more inside]
posted by houseofdanie on May 13, 2008 - 10 answers

Are "fast zombies" really plausible? [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Apr 12, 2008 - 12 answers

How does hair know how long to grow? [more inside]
posted by slavlin on Jan 10, 2008 - 9 answers

Hypotension/hypovolemia as a low-pass filter: I got cut, I went into shock, and then everything started sounding funny. I'd guess it was a 40 dB (±10) rolloff, which began near 200 Hz (±50) and left me with nothing above 1kHz. How in the world? Story, discussion of numeric estimates, off-the-cuff physiological speculations, etc... [more inside]
posted by eritain on May 12, 2007 - 24 answers

What is the physiology of bird sounds? [more inside]
posted by Listener on May 1, 2007 - 7 answers

So I'm still trying to pinpoint this one (I keep forgetting to ask it, and Google turns up nothing)-- when one lies down in a bathtub, faceup, and submerges at least their entire ears, they shiver (it's more kind of an uncontrollable, brief spasm of the upper body and doesn't FEEL like shivering, but looks like it). It isn't related to the water temperature, as far as I can tell, and DOESN'T happen when facedown or swimming, etc. Or do other people not have this happen? Do you? I get it every single time, without fail, and have since I can remember. My mom knows exactly what I'm talking about, but my dad insists we're both crazy. Is this just one of those odd reflex reactions like coughing when you have something in your ear or sneezing when you get in the sun? (I also do that one-- always funny to explain to people :) ) Any idea what causes this, though?
posted by dmaterialized on Feb 5, 2007 - 7 answers

Why are there fast people and slow people? Why do different people have different paces? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Aug 23, 2006 - 34 answers

What is the underlying physiological cause for paresthesia (tingling of the fingers) secondary to hyperventilation? Specifically, what metabolic or neurological process causes you to feel tingling in your fingers when you hyperventilate?
posted by scrump on Jun 30, 2006 - 2 answers

Is stuttering more common in some languages than in others? If singing is supposed to suppress it (true?), does that mean tonal languages (e.g. Chinese) do not suffer the phenom? Indeed, are there any languages in which it does not appear at all? If so, any theories why?
posted by IndigoJones on Jun 10, 2005 - 7 answers

What's the connection between a thought of regret, or of resignation to a negative situation, that causes humans to involuntarily fill their lungs and exhale slowly? Is such sighing learned behavior? Does every culture sigh for this reason? Animals sigh. When my dog sighs, is she laying there regretting she didn't roll in that dead skunk when she had the chance?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders on Apr 15, 2005 - 19 answers

Why is my butt cold? [more inside]
posted by macadamiaranch on Mar 26, 2005 - 17 answers

Should not Spiderman's web not shoot out his arse?
posted by kenaman on Jun 26, 2004 - 26 answers