Here at Flex Technologies, we sell silicone products for the medical industry, among many others. We are proud to provide the silicone tubes and hoses that help keep hospital machines functioning normally. All of our products are available online, with wholesale and custom design options available. Here, we thought we would celebrate the people that keep us healthy with some fun medical facts.

Fastest Nerves in the West

Humans have amazing reaction time if you think about it. How are we able to react to things so quickly? The speed of our nerve impulses! Your nerves communicate with each other at speeds up to 170 miles per hour. If you've ever referred to your body as a well oiled machine, the metaphor may have been closer to the mark than you think, as your body has the reaction speed of a high powered sports car.

Light Bulb!

Speaking of metaphors, have you ever gotten a bright idea, and referred to it as a "light bulb" moment? The phrase is more appropriate than you think, as your brains functions on the same amount of energy as a 10 watt light bulb. This is true while you are sleeping, as well as when active and awake.

Back It Up in the Ol' Harddrive

Our ability to process and store information is one of the major features that distinguishes us from other species in the animal kingdom. But how much information can we actually store? Estimates vary, but even conservative ones say we can store about five times as much information as is in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Although this is more metaphorical, as scientists are unable to quantify a definitive amount of information. However, in electronic terms, the storage capacity of the human brain is thought to be somewhere between three and 1,000 terabytes of storage. The National Archives of Britain, which contains 900+ years of history, is only about 70 terabytes.

Fuel Burner

Speaking of what separates of from the other animals, the reason we can hold so much information is because of the power of our brains. But that power comes at a cost: fuel. Your body uses about 20 percent of its energy and oxygen input just on your brain alone. 

The Never-Ending Story

For many years, researchers thought that brain tissue could not heal, grow, or regenerate. However, recent studies show that this is not the case. While your neurons don't grow and heal in the same manner as other parts of your body, your neurons are actually growing throughout your entire life.

A Whale of a Beard

Hair grows, we cut it; the cycle continues. But did you know that of all the hair on your body, facial hair grows the fastest? Anybody who has ever had to deal with a five o'clock shadow can tell you this. But the scope is pretty impressive; if a man were to never shave his beard throughout his entire life, it would grow on average 30 feet long, longer than the length of a killer whale.

Mars vs. Venus (Mars Wins)

Girls rule, boys drool. Or is it the other way around? Any ways, there are certain biological differences between the sexes. One that you may not know about is that men's hair is about twice the diameter of women's hair. The distinction between hair diameter between the sexes is huge, but there are also differences in the average between different races as well. Of course, hair loss is more prevalent in men, and the courser hair may be a factor.

Indestructible!

It may not seem like it, what with our fear of losing our hair and its weakness to fire, but our hair is just about indestructible.Not only is it so durable that just one strand can hold up to 3.5 ounces, but it is practically non disintegrative. It can't be destroyed by cold, water, change of climate, and even many acids and other corrosive chemicals. 

Small Is Large

Everybody has a small and large intestine. But did you know that this is a bit of a misnomer? Your small intestine is actually the largest internal organ in your body. All stretched out, the small intestine is about four times as long as the average person's height. In fact, if it wasn't looped back in on itself so many times, it would not even fit in the abdominal cavity.

A Jack of All Trades

When you think of the busiest organs, you probably think of the heart and brain. And that would be true, but there is another contender that you should add to the list: the liver. To date, scientists have found over 500 varying liver functions. You may think it only carries its weight after a long night of drinking, but that is not the case. Just some of these functions that you can thank your liver for include bile production, red blood cell decomposition, detoxification, and plasma protein synthesis. 

Barely Room for 3 of Us in This Town

Everybody knows that human beings have two lungs. But did you know that your right lung is bigger than your left lung? This difference is to allow enough room in your chest cavity for your heart. However, the size difference is minimal when it comes to lung function.

Need for Speed

Have you ever noticed that you cannot keep your eyes open whenever you sneeze? There's good reason for that, as there is a lot of force behind a sneeze. So much force, in fact, that they clock in at about 100 miles per hour. That's almost the speed of a pro baseball pitcher. Sneezes aren't the only body function with impressive speed. Coughs, the bane of office and nurseries everywhere, clock in at about 60 miles per hour. So make sure to cover your mouths!

Humble Beginnings

We know that female and male gametes meet to create a human being. It is weird to think that everything we become starts from such humble beginnings. Before turning into an embryo through rapid cell division, every human being starts as a single cell. In fact, they will stay that way for about a full half hour until cell division.

Mars vs. Venus (Venus Wins)

From birth, women on average have a more powerful sense of smell than men do. Consistent findings from studies show that women are better able to distinguish a wide variety of smells over men, including citrus, vanilla, coffee, cinnamon, and many others.

When it comes to our bodies, there are plenty of fun facts to learn about. Thank you to all the medical professionals who keep us safe and healthy every day. If your medical facility requires medical silicone products, like our silicone tubes and hoses for the medical industry, then Flex Technology is the company to call. Our commitment to quality is apparent in every product we ship. For more information, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.