2006-07-28 11:42:18 · 10 answers · asked by smashbrolover 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The body has a limited supply of blood. It can't be in all places at the same time. When we are digesting a large meal, the blood is diverted to the alimentary tract to help transport the digested nutrients away from it. When we exercise most of the blood is in the major muscles being used. The body has a very good circuit board to manage where the blood is needed.
2006-07-28 12:03:04 · answer #1 · answered by ATP-Man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main reason is during times of extreme stress. The most common being when it is cold. The body figures that it is better to conserve heat in the inner body organs and especially the brain because they are more essential to continuous living. Also it is more important for overall survival to have oxygen to the brain that other parts of the body. The brain is able to direct the body to try and find a solution to getting out of the cold or stressful situation for example.
2006-07-28 11:53:20 · answer #2 · answered by cehelp 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you're a Yoga-Master ("yogi")-type, I can't imagine why you'd want to cut off the blood supply to any part of your body. Voluntarily, at least.
If you've been injured, certainly it would be a great help if you could stop/restrict blood flow to certain areas. If, for example, your leg was run over by a train, it would be helpful (to the extent that it would save your life) if you could stop that injury from bleeding.
But as a rule, the body takes care of itself.
2006-07-28 16:32:55 · answer #3 · answered by jvsconsulting 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One might do it in a first aid or emergency setting for severe, unstoppable blood loss. Even amputations often don't keep bleeding a lot. But mangled limbs can. (the muscular walls of completely severed arteries clamp down). Also possibly (but this is often not recommended) for snake or spider bites to slow the movement of the poison to the rest of the body.
Frequently during surgery, blood vessels will be clamped off during the surgery to minimize blood loss and allow the surgeon to visualize the area. Sometimes patients are intentionally cooled to extend the time that tissues can go without blood flow.
I find pressure to the small arteries at the bridge of my nose relieves a sinus headache for awhile.
Briefly cutting off the venous return of blood to the heart let's doctors, nurses, phlebotomists and drug addicts to more easily find veins for administering drugs or taking blood.
The body does it automatically (but not completely), to regulate heat loss (capillaries in the skin vary 100-fold in the blood flow rates. And to respond to hypothermia. Heat is kept longer in the body core by greatly reducing circulation to the arms, legs and head. The blood gets turned around in the middle of the upper arm and upper leg. I have found the loss of hand strength amazing even when down only to 92F, core temp.
2006-07-28 12:06:10 · answer #4 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To prevent loss of blood is the most conspicuous example. Another example is the case of a poisonous snake bite on an extremity. Decreasing blood flow to the extremity will slow the spread of venom to other areas.
2006-07-28 11:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by jim n 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One very easy answer that's seen in humans is the ability to not faint.
Many people, if they stand up too fast, will sometimes faint. But there's a mechanism that squeezes the muscles in your legs (moreso than usual) and tries to keep most of that blood in your upper body. Ofcourse it's not always perfect.
There are some people where this mechanism is busted, and they always need to stand up very carefully.
2006-07-28 11:45:53 · answer #6 · answered by ymingy@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's only advantageous if you will bleed to death otherwise.
When it's not a critical situation, it's not done if there's a way to avoid it. The extremity you are blocking blood flow to will die if it goes on long enough.
2006-07-28 11:46:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your being chased by a lion, body cuts flow of blood (temporarly) to some organs taht arnt associated with running, blood gets directed more torwards legs, result is you run longer and higher speed there fore you have higer chance of getting away
2006-07-28 17:02:10 · answer #8 · answered by Andy Q 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so you don't bleed out when you're cutting your arm off
2006-07-28 11:45:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are no advantages! you could cause permanent brain damage! becareful with this one. seriously!
2006-07-28 11:46:23 · answer #10 · answered by rivadog 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋