How many holes does the human body have?
Live Science • • health
Key Points:
- Mathematicians define a "hole" as a through hole that goes all the way through an object, unlike depressions or blind pits which have an end and do not connect two openings.
- In topology, objects are classified by the number of holes they have, regardless of shape, with items like doughnuts and straws considered equivalent due to having one continuous hole.
- The human body has multiple openings, but only those that connect internally to form through holes count topologically; pores, ducts, and ear canals are excluded as they do not connect through.
- Counting interconnected openings, the human body has seven holes: mouth, anus, two nostrils, and four tear ducts that connect internally, with a possible eighth hole in females
