Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008...6:54 pm
Factoid 16: Morning Heights.
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It has been a while, so here is another factoid.
When you wake up in the morning, you are on average 2cm taller than when you went to bed. I know this because when I get into my car in the morning I always have to adjust the rear view mirror. Likewise, when I get back into the bug to drive home, I have to adjust the mirror back to its previous position.
I also know the Biology (or Science) behind this; but… do you?
The closest (scientifically correct) answer will gain you a small something (on me!) at the end of term 
Photo credit: Elpoca
13 Comments
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I feel like I’m on QI!
Is it not to do with gravity acting on you throughout the day and squashing all the gunk between your vertebrae making your spine shorter? I’ve never bought that story though, it just never seemed like it could be the full answer, more like the answer your parents give you to shut you up. It’s a bit like the thing about your eye dilating to adjust to the light levels -the variables just don’t match up.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:48 am
Great post, that would be great if it were true and we never had to get our of bed we would just get taller and taller that would be great. I could be a b-ball player.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I don’t suppose other Biology teachers are allowed to enter are they Tess ?
April 27th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Well done Stuart! Though you need to be a little bit more specific.
Jaye- If you read this, let us hear it!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
OK, well the spine is made up of vertebra, with disks ’sandwiched’ inbetween acting as shock absorbers. The fact that these discs expand and ontract allows the spine to move about. These discs contain water. When we sleep, we stretch our spines, allowing the water to enter the discs expanding their volume. When we are active and standing, the pressure gradually forces the water to leave the discs by diffusion, and we therefore lose height (up to an inch).
Interestingly enough, there’s a physiological advantage to this because the vertebral discs have no blood supply, and so the water entering brings with it valuable nutrients and when leaving, takes away waste materials.
Do I get a prize ???
April 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Of course it should be ‘contract’ but I’ve just done my nails !!
April 28th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Hi Jaye!
Wow! I am impressed with your answer! You have gone into more detail than I wanted- and you are corrrect. We will now need to make a date were I can buy you a cold liquid prize! -hopefully before SLF 2008!
I will be in touch shortly. As discussed, Glow is starting to move along here.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Hmm, discs containing water, is that not just what I said? It’s just gunk isn’t it?
Disappointed I’ve missed out on the cold liquid prize, I’ll have to make sure I get the next one.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Well Stuart,
I was pretty impressed with your answer. As you are a non-Scientist (well Biologist actually) I will reward you too. Need to celebrate your appointment too!
Murrayfield this weekend perhaps?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
The phenomenon you describe is one that was researched in Austria in the early 1800s. The lengthening effect is actually to do with the rotational effect of the Earth, when the body is in a horizontal position for a prolonged period. Various parts of the body, particularly those that have high proportions of soft tissue undergo lengthening as a result of centrifugal forces. The lengthening of the body is maximised when the bed is positioned so that it lies parallel with the equator.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Thanks for your comment DJ.
Interesting to learn the Physics behind the Biology!
April 30th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Delighted to add a serious dimension to the discussion Tess. Is the prize something you can post? dj
May 1st, 2008 at 9:06 am
No Dj, but I will see you at Liberton on the 15th!
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