Species-specific differences are also found. [12] However, vibrissae are different from other hair structures because they grow from a special hair follicle incorporating a capsule of blood called a blood sinus which is heavily innervated by sensory nerves. to be "whisker specialists", but marine mammals may make even greater investment in their vibrissal sensory system. [1] The whisking movements occur in bouts of variable duration, and at rates between 3 and 25 whisks/second. Teeth grasp the mouse tightly around its neck. The sensitivity to androgens seems to have been acquired by humans on the gene KRT37 relatively recently. They are specialised for tactile sensing (other types of hair operate as more crude tactile sensors). Vibrissae of different groups may vary in their anatomical parameters and in their operation, and it is generally assumed that they serve different purposes in accordance with their different locations on the body. In medicine, the term vibrissae also refers to the thick hairs found inside human nostrils.[3]. Thus, whilst whiskers certainly could be described as "proximal sensors" in contrast to, say, eyes, they offer a tactile sense with a sensing range that is functionally very significant. The whiskered auklet (Aethia pygmaea) has striking, stiff white feathers protruding from above and below the eyes of the otherwise slate-grey bird, and a dark plume which swoops forward from the top of its head. Dictionary entry overview: What does whiskers mean? • WHISKERS (noun) It is typically a secondary sex characteristic of human males. Mystacial vibrissae are generally described as being further divided into two sub-groups: the large macrovibrissae that protrude to the sides and the small microvibrissae below the nostrils that mostly point downwards. [24], The sensory function of vibrissae is an active research area—experiments to establish the capabilities of whiskers use a variety of techniques, including temporary deprivation either of the whisker sense or of other senses. [6] These groups, all of which are visible in the accompanying image of the Patagonian fox, are well conserved across land mammals though anatomical and functional details vary with the animal's lifestyle. Some birds possess specialized hair-like feathers called rictal bristles around the base of the beak which are sometimes referred to as whiskers. The moustache forms its own stage in the development of facial hair in adolescent males. Whisking—the periodic movement of the whiskers—is also presumed to serve tactile sensing in some way. Learn more. Animals that do not whisk, but have motile whiskers, presumably also gain some advantage from the investment in musculature. Movements of the whiskers are closely co-ordinated with those of the head and body. Pinnipeds have well-developed tactile senses. [18] Even in species with shorter whiskers, they can be very prominent appendages (see images). Large variations can occur however, as boys as young as eleven have been known to develop facial hair. Scholarpedia[1] offers: "Since rapid movement of the vibrissae consumes energy, and has required the evolution of specialised musculature, it can be assumed that whisking must convey some sensory advantages to the animal. [19] A small muscle 'sling' is attached to each macrovibrissa and can move it more-or-less independently of the others, whilst larger muscles in the surrounding tissue move many or all of the macrovibrissae together. [2] Women are also capable of developing facial hair, especially after menopause, though typically significantly less than men. The cat holds on until the prey stops wriggling.". "Stages of Puberty: A Guide for Girls and Boys", "Premature Moustache As Presenting Symptom of Nonclassic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to 2 Uncommon Mutations of the CYP21A2 Gene", "Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Grace Bedell", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Facial_hair&oldid=982113663, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

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