Jump to content

Navel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromNavels)
"Belly button" redirects here. For other uses, seeBelly button (disambiguation)andNavel (disambiguation).
"Innie" and "Outie" redirect here. For other uses, seeInnie (disambiguation)andOutie (disambiguation).

Navel
Human navel
Details
PrecursorUmbilical cord
Ductus venosus
ArteryUmbilical artery
VeinUmbilical vein
Identifiers
Latinumbilicus
MeSHD014472
TA98A01.2.04.005
TA2261
FMA61584
Anatomical terminology

Thenavel(clinically known as theumbilicus;pl.:umbiliciorumbilicuses;commonly known as thebelly buttonortummy button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on theabdomenat the attachment site of theumbilical cord.[1]Allplacentalmammalshave a navel, although it is generally more conspicuous in humans.

Structure

[edit]
See also:Umbilical veinandUmbilical artery
The navel is the centre of the circle in this drawing of theVitruvian ManbyLeonardo da Vinci

The umbilicus is used to visually separate the abdomen into quadrants.[2]

The umbilicus is a prominentscaron the abdomen, with its position being relatively consistent among humans. The skin around the waist at the level of the umbilicus is supplied by the tenth thoracicspinal nerve(T10dermatome). The umbilicus itself typically lies at a vertical level corresponding to the junction between the L3 and L4vertebrae,[3]with a normal variation among people between the L3 and L5 vertebrae.[4]

Parts of the adult navel include the "umbilical cord remnant" or "umbilical tip", which is the often protruding scar left by the detachment of the umbilical cord. This is located in the center of the navel, sometimes described as thebelly button.Around the cord remnant is the "umbilical collar", formed by the dense fibrousumbilical ring.Surrounding the umbilical collar is the periumbilical skin. Directly behind the navel is a thick fibrous cord formed from the umbilical cord, called theurachus,which originates from thebladder.[5]

The belly button is unique to each individual due to it being a scar, and various general forms have been classified by medical practitioners.[6][7][further explanation needed]

  • Outie:A navel consisting of the umbilical tip protruding past the periumbilical skin is an outie. Essentially any navel which is not concave.
    • Swirly/spiral:A rare form in which the umbilical cord scar forms a swirl shape.
    • Split:The protruding umbilical cord scar extends outwards, but is cleft in two by a fissure which extends part or all the way through the umbilical cord scar. This form is similar in appearance to a coffee bean.
    • Protrusion:The umbilical cord remnant is completely divulged, exposing the full umbilical scar.
    • Circlet:Although the entirety of the umbilical cord remnant sits out with the umbilical collar, the centre of the knot is inset by a deep fissure. Unlike a split outie, in this form the fissure is contained centrally and does not extend past the umbilical cord remnant in any direction, much akin to a 'donut' shape.[8]
  • Innie:A navel in which the umbilical tip does not protrude past the periumbilical skin. Any navel which is concave.
    • Round:Round navels are completely circular with no hooding.
    • Vertical:Some navels present in the form of a more elongate hollow parallel with thelinea alba.
    • Oval:This form consists of three variants; superior hooding, inferior hooding, no hooding.
    • T-shaped:As the name states, the scar is in the shape of a T, and may have superior hooding to various extent.
    • Horizontal:The scar is the least visible, as the natural lines of thetendinous intersectionfold over the scar.
  • Distorted:Any navel which does not fit well into any of the other categories.
  • A "T"-shaped navel
    A "T" -shaped navel
  • One of many variations of an outie
    One of many variations of an outie
  • An innie navel
    An innie navel
  • An oval navel
  • An innie navel
  • An innie navel
  • An outie navel
    An outie navel
  • Woman flipping her innie belly button into an outie
    Woman flipping her innie belly button into an outie

Clinical significance

[edit]
The navel of a female after a laparoscopic procedure.
The navel of a female after alaparoscopic procedure.

Disorders

[edit]

Outies are sometimes mistaken forumbilical hernias;however, they are a completely different shape with no health concern, unlike an umbilical hernia. The navel (specifically abdominal wall) would be considered an umbilical hernia if the protrusion were 5centimetersor more. The diameter of an umbilical hernia is usually 1/2-inch or more.[9]Navels that are concave are nicknamed "innies".[10]While the shape of the human navel may be affected by long term changes to diet and exercise, unexpected change in shape may be the result ofascites.[11]

In addition to change in shape being a possible side effect from ascites and umbilical hernias, the navel can be involved in umbilicalsinusor fistula, which in rare cases can lead to menstrual or fecal discharge from the navel. Menstrual discharge from the umbilicus is a rare disorder associated with umbilicalendometriosis.[12][13]

Other disorders

[edit]
  • Omphalitis,an inflammatory condition of the umbilicus in thenewborn,usually caused by a bacterial infection.[14][15]
  • Omphalophobia is the fear of belly buttons. People suffering from omphalophobia are terrified of belly buttons—their own or, in some cases, those of others. They do not like touching their belly buttons (or even other people touching it). Sometimes just seeing a belly button is enough to make them feel disgusted or terrified.[citation needed]

Surgery

[edit]

To minimize scarring, the navel is a recommended site of incision for various surgeries, including transgastricappendicectomy,[16]gall bladdersurgery,[17]and theumbilicoplasty[18]procedure itself.

Fashion, society and culture

[edit]
Further information:Cultural views on the navel

The public exposure of the male and femalemidriffand bare navel was consideredtabooat times in the past inWestern cultures,being consideredimmodestorindecent.Female navel exposure was banned in some jurisdictions, but community perceptions have changed to this now being acceptable.[19]Thecrop topis a shirt that often exposes the belly button and has become more common among young people.[20]Exposure of the male navel has rarely been stigmatised and has become particularly popular in recent years, due to the strong resurgence of the male crop top and malenavel piercing.[21]The navel and midriff are often also displayed inbikinis,or whenlow-rise pantsare worn.

While the West was relatively resistant to navel-baring clothing until the 1980s, it has long been a fashion withIndianwomen,[22]often displayed withsarisorlehengas.

TheJapanesehave long had a special regard for the navel. During the earlyJōmon periodin northern Japan, three small balls indicating the breasts and navel were pasted onto flat clay objects to represent the female body. The navel was exaggerated in size, informed by the belief that the navel symbolized the center where life began.[23]

In Arabic-Levantineculture,belly dancingis a popular art form that consists of dance movements focused on the torso and navel.[24]

BuddhismandHinduismrefer to thechakraof the navel as themanipura.Inqigong,the navel is seen as the main energy centre, ordantian.InHinduism,theKundalini energyis sometimes described as being located at the navel.

  • Belly dancers
    Belly dancers
  • A man wearing a crop top
    A man wearing a crop top
  • Japanese women performing a traditional Japanese dance Yosakoi in navel-exposing attire in the Yosakoi Matsuri 2006 at Kōchi
    Japanese women performing a traditional Japanese danceYosakoiin navel-exposing attire in theYosakoi Matsuri2006 atKōchi
  • Jennifer Lopez baring her midriff and belly button while singing in 2012
    Jennifer Lopezbaring her midriff and belly button while singing in 2012
  • An example of Keely Hodgkinson's track & field uniform which exposes her midriff and belly button while running at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix in 2022
    An example ofKeely Hodgkinson'strack & fielduniform which exposes her midriff and belly button while running at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix in 2022
  • Katie Swan baring her midriff and outie belly button during a tennis match
    Katie Swanbaring her midriff and outie belly button during a tennis match
  • Sofie Dossi's outie belly button while she prepares to shoot a bow
    Sofie Dossi's outie belly button while she prepares to shoot a bow
  • Fitness competitor exposing her belly button
    Fitness competitor exposing her belly button
  • Woman with a pierced belly button
    Woman with a pierced belly button

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Definition of NAVEL".Merriam-Webster.24 November 2023.
  2. ^"Anatomy & Physiology".Openstax college at Connexions. 25 April 2013.Retrieved16 November2013.
  3. ^Ellis, Harold (2006).Clinical Anatomy: Applied Anatomy for Students and Junior Doctors.New York: Wiley.ISBN1-4051-3804-1.[page needed]
  4. ^O'Rahilly, Ronan; Müller, Fabiola; Carpenter, Stanley; Swenson, Rand (2004)."Abdominal walls".Basic Human Anatomy: A Regional Study of Human Structure.Dartmouth Medical School. Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2012.Retrieved10 November2010.
  5. ^Khati, Nadia J.; Enquist, Erik G.; Javitt, Marcia C. (1998). "Imaging of the Umbilicus and Periumbilical Region".Radiographics.18(2): 413–4.doi:10.1148/radiographics.18.2.9536487.PMID9536487.
  6. ^Shiffman, Melvin (2017). "7.3".Adult Umbilical Reconstruction: Principles and Techniques.Switzerland: Springer. p. 53.ISBN978-3-319-43885-6.
  7. ^Mohamed, Fahmy (2018). "Umbilicus Types and Shapes".Umbilicus and Umbilical Cord.Egypt: Springer. pp. 105–8.doi:10.1007/978-3-319-62383-2_22.ISBN978-3-319-62382-5.
  8. ^Stephen Cullen, Thomas (1916)."2".Umbilicus.Australia: W.B.Saunders Company. p. 1.1–1.7.ISBN978-0-7334-2609-4.
  9. ^Meier, Donald E.; OlaOlorun, David A.; Omodele, Rachael A.; Nkor, Sunday K.; Tarpley, John L. (2001). "Incidence of Umbilical Hernia in African Children: Redefinition of 'Normal' and Reevaluation of Indications for Repair".World Journal of Surgery.25(5): 645–8.doi:10.1007/s002680020072.PMID11369993.S2CID22628578.
  10. ^Ceccanti, Silvia, et al. "Umbilical cord sparing technique for repair of congenital hernia into the cord and small omphalocele." Journal of Pediatric Surgery 52.1 (2017): 192-196.
  11. ^Herrine, Steven K."Ascites".The Merck Manuals.
  12. ^Bagade, Pallavi V; Guirguis, Mamdouh M (2009)."Menstruating from the umbilicus as a rare case of primary umbilical endometriosis: a case report".Journal of Medical Case Reports.3:9326.doi:10.1186/1752-1947-3-9326.PMC2803849.PMID20062755.
  13. ^D'Alessandro, Donna M. (2 June 2008)."What's Wrong With His Belly Button?".Pediatric Education.[self-published source?][unreliable medical source?]
  14. ^Cunningham, F.Williams Obstetrics: The Newborn(24th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  15. ^Fleisher, Gary R. Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006, p. 928.
  16. ^Kaehler, G.; Schoenberg, M. B.; Kienle, P.; Post, S.; Magdeburg, R. (2013)."Transgastric appendicectomy".British Journal of Surgery.100(7): 911–5.doi:10.1002/bjs.9115.PMID23575528.S2CID24285562.
  17. ^"SRMC Surgeon Offers Gallbladder Removal through Belly Button Incision with da Vinci System"(Press release). Southeastern Health. 9 December 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2015.Retrieved16 August2015.
  18. ^Bruekers, Sven E.; van der Lei, Berend; Tan, Tik L.; Luijendijk, Roland W.; Stevens, Hieronymus P. J. D. (2009). "'Scarless' Umbilicoplasty ".Annals of Plastic Surgery.63(1): 15–20.doi:10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181877b60.PMID19546666.S2CID206034192.
  19. ^"New code may reveal navel".Mohave Daily Miner.24 March 1985.Retrieved20 April2012.
  20. ^"Men in crop tops seem to be trending thanks to Kid Cudi, the social media and the catwalk".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 18 June 2022.Retrieved30 January2019.
  21. ^Ktena, Natalie (28 August 2018)."We talked to a 'crop top historian' about the comeback of the male crop top".BBC.Retrieved14 September2018.
  22. ^Banerjee, Mukulika & Miller, Daniel (2003)The Sari.Oxford; New York: BergISBN1-85973-732-3[page needed]
  23. ^Naumann, Nelly(2000)."First Indications of Symbolic Expression".Japanese Prehistory: The Material and Spiritual Culture of the Jōmon Period.Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 114–5.ISBN978-3-447-04329-8.
  24. ^"Belly Dance History – A History of Belly Dancing « Belly Dance org".bellydance.org.Retrieved24 December2018.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
  • Media related toNavelsat Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Navel&oldid=1243438603"