The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus, commonly known as the belly button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel.
| Navel | |
|---|---|
| Precursor | Umbilical cord Ductus venosus |
| Artery | Umbilical artery |
| Vein | Umbilical vein |
| Identifiers |
In this post
As you can see in the picture below, the belly button normally isn’t connected to anything in adults. It does play an important role for developing fetuses, however. This photo shows what the belly button looks like from inside the abdomen. As you can see, it is not attached to anything in the body.
Typically, belly button piercings go through the “lip” of skin above the belly button. Although most people can technically get these types of piercings, it’s best to have a good flap of skin above the belly button for the piercer to put the jewelry through if you want it to heal properly.
The part of the umbilical arteries closest to the belly button degenerates into ligaments that serve no real purpose but the more internal part becomes part of the circulatory system and is found in the pelvis supplying blood to parts of the bladder, ureters and ductus deferens (a tube sperm moves through in males).
the umbilical cord
Your belly button is a reminder of the place that once connected you to your mother via the umbilical cord. When you’re born, the umbilical cord is cut and you have a small piece left called the umbilical stump. One to 2 weeks after birth, this stump falls off and what remains is your belly button.
The pancreas is a long, thin organ located behind the stomach, in the upper left side of the abdomen. It produces enzymes to aid in digestion. If the pancreas becomes inflamed, the condition is known as pancreatitis.
Innie or outie? How about neither? There are lots of people who have surgery at birth or later in life that mean they have no belly button at all. If you’re one of the few and proud who don’t have a belly button, you aren’t alone.
If you don’t clean your bellybutton, a number of problems could occur. These can include: Yeast infection. Most bellybuttons are a breeding ground for bacteria since they’re a dark, moist area where skin often rests against skin.
the answer is no. your belly button is basically a big kot of fibrosed tissue (scar tissue) so is tougher than ordinary tissue.
Using warm water and mild soap, use a washcloth to gently clean around and just inside the belly button. Rinse with clean, warm water and dry with a towel to make sure that all water has been removed from the belly button. Showering or bathing regularly can help to prevent skin problems and odor.
Because of its shape and tiny skin folds, belly buttons can collect dirt, sweat, and bacteria. In fact, the average belly button contains about 67 types of bacteria. 1 This buildup can lead to a smell and even infection. Your belly button may smell because of a hygiene need or an infection caused by bacteria or fungus.
In an open (or patent) urachus, there is an opening between the bladder and the belly button (navel). The urachus is a tube between the bladder and the belly button that is present before birth. In most cases, it closes along its full length before the baby is born.
Your belly button is one of your very first scars.
Your belly button is formed from scar tissue left over from the umbilical cord that joined you to your mother’s placenta. Once the umbilical cord was cut, the stump that was left behind fell off, leaving you with what is now your weird, but wonderful, belly button.
Umbilical Hernia Symptoms
- Bulge in or near the bellybutton that usually gets bigger when straining, lifting or coughing.
- Pressure or pain at the hernia site.
- Constipation.
- Sharp abdominal pain with vomiting — this can be a sign of a strangulated hernia and is a medical emergency.
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of your intestine bulges through the opening in your abdominal muscles near your bellybutton (navel). Umbilical hernias are common and typically harmless. Umbilical hernias are most common in infants, but they can affect adults as well.
And in a worst-case scenario, if things get too out-of-hand, your belly button could start to leak a brownish, yellow, or white discharge, which signals a bacterial or yeast infection, says Dr.
Just how dirty is your belly button? In a 2012 study published by PLOS One, researchers found 2,368 species of bacteria nestled into navels — 1,458 of which may be new to science. Gross. According to dermatologist Dr.
A navel stone is sometimes called an omphalolith or umbolith. It is a condition where substances like sebum, or skin oil, hair, dead skin cells, and dirt can accumulate and form a hardball. The stone is usually a dark color and firm to the touch. They may resemble a large blackhead in the opening of the navel.
There are many risks associated with playing with your navel, but one of the most important is that you can push on your bellybutton and cause an infection. This happens when you introduce bacteria into your body through a wound in the area. To avoid this, make sure to always keep your hands clean and dry!
What causes belly button pain when the belly button is touched? A hernia can also cause a belly button to be sensitive to touch, but Crohn’s disease can cause this symptom as well. Crohn’s disease usually comes on slowly, and symptoms include: diarrhea.
“The internal lining of the abdominal cavity at your umbilicus (belly button) is called your parietal peritoneum. This structure is exquisitely sensitive and its sensory nerve fibres relay input back to the spinal cord at the same level as the nerves that relay sensation from your bladder and urethra.”