The belly button, however, is one anatomical feature that tends to be overlooked.
The cord connects to the placenta, which filters and re-oxygenates blood.
Technically, your belly button is a scar from your umbilical cord (perHealthline).
Biology isn’t the only impressive thing about belly buttons.
Belly buttons are also the subject of superstitions and folklore.
And then there’s Omphalomancy, the occult practice of gazing into the belly button to see the future.
For all of these reasons and more, the navel is quite intriguing.
Why does every belly button look different?
There is no such thing as a “normal” belly button.
However, a common throw in of belly button does indeed exist.
For general purposes, navels are filed into two categories.
There are innies, which dip inwards like a pit.
Then you’ve got outies, where a bulb of skin pokes out of the belly button.
According toBayCare, only 10% of the population is blessed with a protruding outie.
To that, we say, “Hooray for science …?”
Can I change the appearance of my belly button?
Most people strive to feel powerful and confident in their own skin.
For some of us, that pursuit includes all of our skin, right down to the navel.
Umbilicoplasty is more common than you might think, and according toNewsweek, its popularity is on the rise.
There’s no shame in cosmetic surgery.
Everyone deserves to feel beautiful, no matter what that means for them.
There are actually plenty of reasons why folks wish to reconstruct the appearance of their belly buttons.
What’s the deal with belly button lint?
In a way, your belly button is a convenient stash for wandering fuzz.
And if you thought that belly button lint collectors only existed in campy movies, guess again.
Barker has reportedly been stockpiling his navel lint since 1984.
Additionally, your navel fluff can take on the color of your clothing.
Is it normal for belly buttons to be smelly?
In general, yes.
While a very slight odor can be considered normal, a strong odor is a cause for concern.
More rarely,belly button odorcan be because of umbilical stones.
Those with deeper belly buttons are more likely to suffer from navel stones.
These nasty little nuggets can be removed, but it’s best to prevent them altogether.
Fortunately, regular cleanings will help banish dirt and unpleasant odors from your belly button.
How should I clean my belly button?
If you have an innie, you’ll want to use a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol.
If your skin is prone to dryness, nix the rubbing alcohol and try soapy water instead.
For those with an outie, it’s best to use a soaped-up washcloth to gently clean the area.
Does everyone appreciate belly buttons?
Furthermore, the navel is an erogenous zone, meaning that some folks associate it with sexual pleasure.
However, belly button adoration is not universal.
In fact, some people live with an extreme fear of belly buttons, known as omphalophobia.
This occurs in people who feel panic and terror when they see a belly button.
On the other end of the spectrum, some communities revere the belly button.
Shibukawa in Japan, for instance, has an entire festival dedicated to this cavernous little body part.
At the Shibukawa belly button festival, participants paint their bellies to look like whimsical faces.
The event is packed with food, dancing, and a dazzling parade.
you could even touch thebelly button Jizo a special historic rock that is said to make wishes come true.
Does everybody have a belly button?
It seems surreal, but there are people in this world who don’t have a navel.
Unfortunately, toxic beauty culture spares no one, not even Kurkova.
In January 2022, a TikToker went viral with her no-navel midriff.
Thevideoracked up more than 22 million views.
She revealed that it took multiple surgeries to correct the birth defect, which eventually erased her belly button.
According to theChildren’s Hospital of Philadelphia, omphalocele happens to one in 4,000 to 7,000 babies.
What’s going on inside of my belly button?
The answer: A lot more than you’d expect!
How many different microbes occupy that little abyss in our tummies?
The scientists found that belly buttons are remarkably diverse, with each navel containing its own distinct bacterial community.
Altogether, the Belly Button Biodiversity Project unearthed 1,458 potentially new bacteria species.
Why do I get a strange feeling from poking my belly button?
Belly button curiosity is as natural as the little orifice on your abdomen.
Most of us have given our own belly buttons a good prodding at some point in life.
There are other sources of belly button discomfort that don’t involve jabbing your navel with a finger.
Are belly buttons controversial?
The 1960s and ’70s were especially rife with belly button controversy.
At the center was the star of “I Dream of Jeannie,“Barbara Eden.
They became very strict about the navel,” Eden said.
The first female navel on an American TV screen belonged to actress Yvette Mimieux in 1964 (viaMeTV).
Mimieux’s midriff walked so that others could run.
Blingynavel piercingsalso dominated the fashion scene, which made the belly button an even bigger focal point.
Thanks to the current revival of Y2K style, the navel is back and better than ever.
Will pregnancy change my belly button?
Throughout pregnancy, the carrier’s abdomen continually expands to accommodate that growing bun in the oven.
So for that reason, we tip our hats to the pregnancy outies of the world.
Not everyone will be blessed with a puffed-up outie during pregnancy.
Sometimes, the belly button becomes flat.
In other instances, it doesn’t change at all.
Fortunately, all of these scenarios are considered completely normal.
Pregnancy can also cause the belly button to become more itchy or painful than normal (viaVerywell Family).
In most cases, the change is only temporary and the resilient navel bounces back after pregnancy.
