Do you really know? Why do our fingers wrinkle in water?
Oct 28, 2025
Ever wondered why your fingers wrinkle in water? It's not just about skin swelling; your nervous system is at play! When submerged, blood vessels constrict, causing that familiar wrinkled look. Interestingly, wrinkled fingers actually enhance grip on wet objects by about 12%, according to a Newcastle University study. And what about toes? The evolutionary reasons behind their wrinkling remain a topic of debate among scientists. Dive into these intriguing facts that reveal the wonders of our body!
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Wrinkling Is Driven By Your Nervous System
- Finger wrinkling in water is caused by nerve-driven blood vessel constriction, not just skin soaking up water.
- Constricted vessels shrink the fingers while skin remains the same, producing the grooves.
Wrinkles Improve Grip On Wet Objects
- Wrinkled fingertips likely improve grip on wet objects by channeling water away like tyre grooves.
- A Newcastle University study found tasks were about 12% faster with wrinkled fingers.
Experiment Shows Faster Handling With Wrinkled Fingers
- Researchers had participants move objects through a hole with dry then wrinkled fingers to test performance.
- The wrinkled condition made the process around 12% faster, showing measurable advantage.