HAIR
HUMAN HAIR: A BIOLOGICAL NECESSITY
A BIOLOGICAL NECESSITY
By Dr. Birendra Kaur
Thermal Regulators
Hair is a characteristic feature of mammals, commonly known as “Hairy quadrupeds” – a group of animals that mark the climax of evolution. Mammals are also the dominant animals in the world today, due partly to their ability to regulate body temperature in the face of variations in environmental temperature. This requires regulation of heat production and heat loss by the body. Hair plays an important role in regulating heat loss from the body. Impulses from the brain (hypothalamus) causes the hair to stand on ends, thereby enclosing an insulating layer of air just outside the skin. This layer reduces the loss of heat by radiation.
Man Lost Tail for Hair
Man marks the climax of evolution even among mammals, and has the most complex and highly developed brain, and the longest hair on head. This feature cannot be without reason. It cannot be a matter of mere chance or a mistake by nature, because if the tails has been lost the hair too could have been lost. On the contrary, human head-hair has increased manifold as compared to other mammals.
Body’s Extended Surface Area
This dense and long growth of hair on the head shows that the body is trying to increase the surface area for some particular function. Such a trend to increase the surface area is seen in every system of the body, e.g. the highly coiled intestines with finger-like villi on their inner surfaces for absorption of digested food; alveoli in the lungs for exchange of O2 and CO2; glomerular capillaries in the form of bunch and coiled tubules in the kidneys where urine formation takes place. The circulatory and nervous systems show extensive branching to reach every nook and corner of the body. Even the surface of the human brain has maximum fissures (folds) corresponding to its increased abilities. The results that will be produced by decreasing the surface area of these points is easy for all to imagine!
Insulation by forming an insulating coat on the body.
It traps a layer of still air just outside the skin, and thereby reduces loss of heat by radiation.
Absorb harmful radiations from the sun.
Coarse Filters to keep out coarse dust particles, as in eyelashes, hair in the nasal chambers and ear canals.
Fluid Channels Eyebrows prevent water or perspiration from falling into eyes, due to their particular direction.
Ball Bearings Auxillary and pubic hair lessen friction between limbs and body, and between limbs during locomotion.
Help Sweat Evaporation
Auxillary hair provides large surface area for evaporation of sweat.
Beautify the body (otherwise why people do not shave off their hair from the head completely; bald men are desperate and would pay any price to get back hair on their heads).
Beard and Moustaches are for differentiation of sex. Mostly males are decorated in nature, e.g. lion, peacock and other birds, deer, etc.
Protective Layer===
Protection from sun and rain.
Labrianth Seal Prevent water from entering into skin.
Defines Individual’s Persona & Imparts colour to body.
Sensory
Human hair are akin to Vibrissae, which are sensory hair, tactile in nature and useful in dark burrows.
Danger Sensors
Defend the body (evolutionary response) in danger, by standing on their ends, thereby making the body look bigger.
Camaflauge
Helps to disguise by blending with the colour of the surroundings, to escape the watchful eyes of natural enemies.
Hair are not Dead.
Brain Keeps Account of Each Bit of Each Hair.
Hair is erroneously considered lifeless because of lack of any visible connection with the brain. But, the brain is not controlling/communicating with our body through nerves alone. Hormones regulate various body functions. The immune system fights infection through coordinated actions of cells without visible connections. So visible nerves are not the only sign of activity.
Hair Respond to Status of Health
If hair were truly dead, how does the brain know when it has been cut — and regrow it to the same length?
Once the specific length is attained, growth stops.
Hair responds to ageing, health condition, shine, lustre, thickness, etc.
Hair Has No Sensation, Neither Has Brain
Lack of sensation does not imply lack of life. The brain also has no sensation.
Many animals without nerves still live.
Plants show no sensation yet are alive.
Brain Has No Sensation but Works — So Do Hair.
A part may have no sensation yet have critical function:
What would be the fate of an egg without the shell?
What about skin without dead protective layers?
How would teeth work without enamel?
How would birds fly without feathers?
How would freshwater animals survive harsh conditions without cysts?
How would plants disperse seeds without seed formation?
No cell can be labelled “useless.” Each has a function.
HAIR VS. NAILS
Hair vs nails are NOT similar.
Hair grows from a follicle with:
• blood capillaries
• nerve fibres
• sebaceous gland
• attached muscle
• pigmentation processes
Nails are only modified dead skin layers with NO such features.
Hair is strong like steel (same diameter).
Nails are brittle and weak.
Hair grows to a specific length — and the body maintains it.
Nails grow continuously without length regulation.
Hair reflect age, health, shine, greying.
Nails do NOT reflect this.
Hair does not obstruct daily function.
Long nails make functioning difficult.
CONCLUSION
If anything on the head resembles nails — it is dandruff.
Argument: “We lost body hair because we cover the body.”
Counter: Then axillary & pubic hair should have gone first — but they remain.
Nature retains only meaningful functions.
We cannot deny functions simply because we cannot see them — just like sound frequencies we don’t hear, light waves we don’t see, emotions we cannot measure.
Hair is a gift from God, not a burden.
Guru Gobind Singh instructed Sikhs to keep hair uncut as a sign of respect and identity.
Prof. Puran Singh beautifully summarises:
“Ah! Well, let my hair grow long; ….
I cannot forget the knot He tied on my head;
It is sacred, it is his mark of remembrance.
The Master has bathed me in the light of suns not yet seen;
There is eternity bound in this tender fragile knot.
I touch the sky when I touch my hair, and a thousand stars twinkle through the night.”
Source:
http://www.sikhpoint.com/religion/resources/humanhair.htm
