Our bodies are full of wonderous and mysterious features and abilities. As a result, people are often perplexed by certain parts of their bodies, including those that have a chin dimple. The mysterious facial feature was finally explained, thanks to TikTok user, hankgreen1.
The TikTok user posted a video asking about what that “thing” on his face is, referring to his chin dimple. Interestingly, he’s not the only one who didn’t know what it is. Nor was he the only person who’s ever been curious about the chin dimple and its purpose. Luckily, Hank Green, “science communicator” and well-known vlogger, has shed some light.
Chin Dimple Identified as Muscle
“You have identified correctly a weird muscle, well done,” Green responded regarding the chin dimple. He further explained that most muscles in the body connect bones to one another. In contrast, he shared that a few, or several, muscles do not connect bones. For example, sphincters, commonly known for their role in the digestive system, are actually located in several other parts of the body as well, are actually some of the most commonly found muscles in the body that don’t connect bones to one another. A sphincter is a “ring-like” muscle that opens and closes “bodily passages”.
Meanwhile, the chin dimple is actually a muscle that connects to facial skin, called the mentalis muscle—described as a “paired conical muscle”. The mentalis muscle, or chin dimple is one of the many muscles in the face that help make certain expressions. When viewed in anatomy, rather than just a cute little chin dimple with skin, its appearance has actually made numerous people feel uncomfortable when seeing a realistic image of the muscle. On the other hand, it does open a pathway to a better understanding of the complexities and functions of muscle groups.
Face Muscles and Their Purpose
For instance, there are 42 muscles in the face and each muscle group serves a different role in portraying feelings and emotions. In fact, according to a study done by Ohio State University, there are 21 expressions that can be seen across the human face, each using various muscle groups in the face. Furthermore, the mentalis muscle, or chin dimple often works to display “doubt” or “contempt”.
Many people have mixed feelings regarding the attractiveness of a chin dimple. However, there have been many famous people and “heartthrobs” who have sported a chin dimple. As a result, they are generally considered an attractive feature. Yet, they’re incredibly rare. Shockingly, only about 6% of people worldwide are born with a chin dimple.
Bizarre Features
A chin dimple isn’t the only aspect of the body that is considered bizarre, having unexpected features or functions. For example, 1% of the population is born with a rare gene that prevents them from becoming exposed to the adverse effects of sleep deprivation. Meanwhile, others have “red blood cell adaptations” that allow them to survive at high altitudes with lower oxygen levels.
Our bodies perform a range of mysterious functions and have made some incredible adaptations throughout the history of mankind. One interesting feature, the chin dimple, serves the interesting purpose of helping one express oneself. Yet, not everyone has the same defined features. It’s interesting to learn more about how our bodies are designed and how they change based on things like genetics or geographical location.