The human body really is an incredible thing. With its intricate design and unexpected connections, we’re still learning about how it works today. Just when we thought we understood everything there is to know about our anatomy, a recent revelation has left many of us shocked and maybe a little squeamish. Your belly button is attached to something quite unexpected.
Unveiling the Shocking Connection
In a recent viral TikTok video, anatomy teacher Josh Cottle shared a revelation that left many viewers stunned. The video, originally posted by @dougweaverart, chronicles a simple question from Weaver’s wife: What exactly is the belly button attached to? Weaver, like many of us, assumed it was merely connected to the abdominal wall. However, a quick Google search proved that assumption wrong.
“I thought, you know, it’s probably just attached to your abdominal wall, it probably doesn’t go any deeper than that,” Weaver remarked in the video. But the truth is far more unsettling. As it turns out, the belly button is directly linked to the bladder through a structure known as the urachus.
A Relic of Our Fetal Past
But why, you may ask, is there such a connection between these two seemingly unrelated body parts? The answer lies in our fetal development. During gestation, the umbilical cord serves as a lifeline, supplying vital nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus.2 The urachus, a tube-like structure, is a remnant of this connection.3 It once served as the main highway for waste elimination, hence linking the bladder to the umbilical cord.
“This is just the beginning,” Cottle adds in his enlightening commentary on the video. And indeed, it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the surprising revelations about our anatomy.
The urachus, it turns out, has more tricks up its sleeve than simply connecting the belly button to the bladder. In rare instances, the urachus can re-open, leading to a condition known as patent urachus. This unsettling phenomenon can result in urine leaking from the belly button – a truly worrying thought.
But wait, there’s more. For people with endometriosis, a condition characterized by an abnormal growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus, the urachus can become even more troublesome. Umbilical endometriosis can take place, which is where menstrual bleeding occurs through the belly button.
The Intriguing Legacy of the Belly Button
The revelation that our belly buttons are attached to our bladders may leave many of us feeling unsettled or even queasy. It’s an odd connection nobody thinks about but with some further digging, it does make sense. That said, it is also a really cool way to remember the complexity of our bodies and their evolutionary history. From sending us nourishment in the womb to becoming a scar after birth, the belly button is a shared origin and the remarkable journey each of us undertakes from conception to birth.
Make sure you embrace the weird and wonderful quirks of your body – after all, they’re what make you uniquely human. The next time you look at at your belly button, remember that it is not just a simple scar or indentation – it is a tangible link to our past.
Read More: 10 Body Traits Only a Small Percentage of People Have
Sources
- “I Just Learned What the Bellybutton Is Attached To, And I Feel Ill.” Huffington Post.
Amy Glover. February 26, 2024. - “Why Do I Have a Belly Button?” Kids Health
- “What Is the Belly Button For?” Medicine Net. Dr. Sruthi M., MBBS.