THE ARMPITS

The pits? They have names! Axilla is the anatomical name for armpit. Wow your doctor and confuse your friends by referring to your armpits as your axillae.

Are you Sick? Ask Your Armpits!

 

While your armpits can’t speak (if they do, you should consult your doctor), they can tell you how well you’re doing. Each armpit contains a bunch of little lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are like teeny-tiny beanbags sitting under the surface of your skin, and their job is to filter out and fight off bad germs that can make you sick. Most of the time you can’t see or feel them. But if you do feel them, it’s most likely because they’re swollen. And swollen lymph nodes could be your armpits’ way of telling you, “You’ve got an infection!”

Your armpit is one of the warmest parts of your body. If you don’t believe us, tuck a couple slices of bread in there and see how long it takes to heat them up. Your own personal bread warmers!

 

Things you can do with your armpits:

• Pop a water balloon

   

  

   

• Warm up a doughnut

   

  

   

• Stink out an elevator

   

  

   

• Hold a paperback book

• Reveal a secret message (HI!)

• Hide a walnut

Things you cannot do with your armpits:

• Tickle yourself

 

Why Can’t You Tickle Yourself?

Have you ever attempted to tickle yourself? Didn’t work, did it? Scientists at the University of Cambridge think it may have to do with your cerebellum, the part of your brain that anticipates what different things feel like. When you tickle yourself, your cerebellum knows what to expect and isn’t impressed. But when someone else tickles you? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?! In short, some scientists believe that the reason it’s impossible to tickle yourself is because YOU CAN’T SURPRISE YOURSELF!