Why do people's fingertips get wrinkled after an extended time in the bathtub?

Question

...i got this question from reading the spongebob one.

Answer 1

This marvel of nature named skin is very complex. Its purposes are multiple. As the first link between the body and the external world it has to ensure :

chemical and bacterial protection
thermal regulation
absorption of shocks and vibrations
protection against the sun
and very important : allow feeling.
Skin structure is made of 3 layers, epidermis, dermis and hypo dermis.

Back to the weird fingers. After more than 30 minutes in the tub, the epidermis has absorbed a lot of water. But the dermis, which is deeper, has not absorbed as much.


The epidermis has swelled. If this inflation were uniform (the same everywhere), the finger would just be fatter.

But the skin is not uniform. It is tensed in the direction of the length of the finger. Therefore, the epidermis inflates following that direction. And if you look closer, your toes wrinkle as well.

Answer 2

Two weeks later, when they were still no closer to getting their serial killer, Scully wondered
what she would have done without Krycek. Mulder was retreating further and further away from her.
They were all putting in fourteen, eighteen hour days, living on takeout and gallons of coffee.
Tempers were beginning to fray. There were frequent disagreements, arguments, and as always
Scully was the person supposed to keep them together, working as a team. The person they all
looked to, to keep her brilliant but maverick partner in line.

Answer 3

They take on extra water. This water gets into the tissues under the skin.

Answer 4

Water absorption.

Answer 5

i dont noe tht happens alot and sumtimes my nail break i also heard thts da place where it is easy to loose cells and wen u look in da water closly there these white things and wen u toch it i goes away

Answer 6

http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/homework/s95618.htm