Egil.

Fact or fiction?

When I first read this article I questioned if it was even real haha. But really, this story is mind blowing. MIND BLOWING. The picture above shows the priest about to crack Egil's skull in half to examine the exact thickness. Little did he know that the 150 year old skull would withstand the blow. How is this even possible? Egil the viking suffered from Paget's disease. This is a chronic disorder that results in englarged and misshaped bones. To be simple, the remodeling of bone is disturbed, not synchronized. Excessive bone growth causes bone pain, deformity  fracture, and arthitis... poor Egil :( Ultimately, the excessive bone growth is due to the osteoblasts in the bones creating an uncontrolled amount of osetocytes due to lack of osteoclasts. The cause of Paget's disease is unknown, but have recently discovered that the seqeustrome on chromosome 5 may be associated and that virus may be necessary to trigger this disease. Another fun fact: Paget's disease is common in approximately only 1% of the American population! This is my guess as to why there is little research and information on this chronic disorder. BUT for more information, click here ---> http://www.medicinenet.com/pagets_disease/article.htm

Portrait by Quentin Matsys of a duchess suffering from Pagets... 

Poor lady :(

citations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paget's_disease_of_bone

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valkyr/4662811955/

Skeletal.

Two systems... Similar functions.

Both the skeletal system and integumentary system share the function of protection. The skeletal system, for example, includes the thoracic cage which protects internal organs, the skull which protects the brain, and also the pelvic girdle which protects the pelvis. So what about the skin you ask? WELL one of the integumentay system's main function is actually protection. The skin is the physical, chemical and water barrier. It protects the inside of the body from physical damage (cuts) and it's also hydrophobic (waterproof) to prevent loss or gain of hydration. The skin also protects the body from damage chemically, for example melanin prevents UV light from penetrating deep tissue! The skin is seriously amazing, obviously. These two systems are physiologically related by their functions and not to mention the skin (along with the muscle and nervous systems) actually protects the skeletal system itself! ---> I have a feeling this is just one example of how ALL the systems that allow our body to function are physiologically related. Which is fascinating to me because if you think about it, we are so perfectly designed? Creation or biological evolution...? 

 

Fun facts about the skin? Click below :)

http://youtu.be/YXC9QwAQBS0

Citations

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-1402875-water-drops-on-the-skin.php

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0909rc_1932_ford_tudor_classic/photo_03.html