Science Questions

• Strengthening. The hard, outer covering on the tips of the fingernails makes the fingertips one of the strongest parts of the hand. This makes performing everyday tasks, including gripping, less risky. The fingernails have many small blood vessels to supply them, and can maintain their blood flow even when you’re gripping something very tightly.

• Protection. Having a fingernail covering can prevent viruses and bacteria from entering the body. If a person’s nail bed is disrupted, they may be more at risk for nail infections.

• Enhancing fine motor movements. The fingernails enhance your ability to scratch and separate, such as pages in a book or hairs on your head. A person can also use their fingernails to pick up items.

• Sensation. While you may not think of the nails as being as sensitive as your fingertips, there’s an intricate network of nerves underneath the nail.

Your skin protects your body from germs and regulates body temperature. Nerves in the skin help you feel sensations like hot and cold. Your skin, along with your hair, nails, oil glands and sweat glands, is part of the integumentary (in-TEG-you-ME I NT-a-ree) system. “Integumentary” means a body's outer covering.

In human beings, specialized hairs such as eye lashes and hairs inside the nostrils and external ears afford some protection from the environment. Eyebrows prevent sweat from getting into the eyes. Scalp hairs may assist in stabilizing the temperature of the brain.

Cartilage is a strong, flexible connective tissue that protects your joints and bones. It acts as a shock absorber throughout your body. Cartilage at the end of your bones reduces friction and prevents them from rubbing together when you use your joints.

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What is the main function of cartilage?

If you meant 'living beings', then no, organs aren't considered as living beings. But, are they living or having life? Yes, as long as they are part of the system that they were supposed to be in. Even without the system, an organ will continue to function, even if it is only for a few minutes at-most.