Charles Darwin discovered around a dozen bodily components that he cheerfully labelled as “useless, or virtually useless” in the first chapter of The Descent of Man. Our bodies are littered with things we don’t need, so Darwin’s catalogue was far from complete. Take a look at a few of them.
Body hair
Our brows keep sweat out of our eyes, but male facial hair is just as crucial in appealing the opposite sex sexually. The majority of hair on the human body appears to be useless.
Paranasal sinuses
Nobody understands why humans keep these bothersome mucus-lined cavities, unless it’s to lighten our heads.
Extrinsic ear muscles
These strange-sounding muscles allow some animals, such as rabbits and dogs, to move their ears independently. They still exist, which is why some people can move their ears, but these muscles are useless.
Wisdom teeth
Plants were chewed by early humans to gain enough energy to survive, but today only around 5% of the population has a set of these healthy but useless teeth. We’re hoping this one is the first to be crossed off the list – fewer dental expenditures!
Neck rib
Cervical ribs are still found in less than 1% of the population, probably as a holdover from the reptile era. Some people only have it on their left or right side, while others have it on both sides. They frequently result in nerve and artery disorders.
Palmaris muscle
This long, narrow muscle, which goes from the elbow to the wrist, is absent in 11% of people today. If you were a martial artist or rock climber, you would undoubtedly want to keep it because it was formerly useful for hanging and climbing.
Male nipples
Because an unborn kid is effectively sexless in the early phases of foetal development, both men and women have nipples (without gender). As a result, both males and females have nipples. Men don’t produce milk because they don’t have enough prolactin to trigger lactation.
Arrector pili muscles
Animals can puff up their fur for insulation or to intimidate others using these tiny muscles. Humans have preserved this ability (goose bumps are the telltale sign), but have lost the majority of their fur.
Appendix
When the human diet included more of plant matter than animal protein, this small muscular tube linked to the big intestine served as a particular region to breakdown cellulose.
Thirteenth rib
Chimpanzees and gorillas, our closest relatives, have an extra pair of ribs. The majority of us have twelve, but 8% of adults have an additional one.
Toes
Scientists discovered that people used to walk and balance more on the midline of their feet, but that we’ve gradually shifted our balance to the side of our big toe. Our centre of balance is still sliding inward, according to studies. This suggests that people used to rely heavily on their toes for balance, but no longer do. If the current tendency continues, we will no longer require our toes.
Coccyx
It’s also known as a tail-bone, and it’s the only remaining part of the tail that most mammals use for balance and communication.
Third eyelid
A membrane for covering the eye and sweeping out dirt may have existed in a common ancestor of birds and mammals. Only a small fold in the inner corner of the eye remains in humans.
Darwin’s Point
A little folded point of skin near the top of each ear that can be found in modern people on rare occasions. It could be a relic of a bigger shape that aided in the focusing of distant sounds.
Subclavius muscle
If humans were still walking on all fours, this tiny muscle spanning from the first rib to the collarbone might be useful. Some people have only one, while others have two.
