In an earlier post, I discussed the skin and its role as an organ. I wish now to discuss the sense of touch as it is experienced through the skin, nails, and hair. This is the final sense of our bodily systems and will complement smell, taste, hearing, and vision.
At two weeks gestation, the stem cells differentiate into germ layers known as the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. The ectoderm gives rise to the skin, hair follicles, nails, sweat glands, and some nerves. The specialized cells known as the neuroectoderm, give rise to the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, as well as bones and muscles of the face. At three to four weeks the dermis forms, then at four to five weeks, it is one layer thick. It is transparent, thus allowing one to see my internal organs. Yuk, for some, and interesting to others!
At five to six weeks the embryo begins to move as muscles and nervous systems begin to develop. A light touch to the mouth causes me to withdraw my head. These movements help my muscles and bones develop. Movements aren’t felt by my mum for another eight or ten weeks. At six to seven weeks separate fingers and toes are present, and I will exhibit a startle response.
At eight weeks the dermis is two layers thick, hiding my internal organs from on-lookers. Touching me at this time results in squinting, grasping, jaw motion, and toe pointing. Small hairs around my mouth can be seen and eyebrows grow. Check out the mustache and eyebrows my father sports! It was reported in 2022 that receptors are present within the nervous system that allows me to experience pain when noxious stimuli are applied. At nine weeks the nerve receptors in the face, palms, and soles of the feet can sense and respond to touch. At nine to ten weeks nails and fingerprints are evident. At eleven weeks complex facial expressions are observed. By week eleven or twelve the entire body surface, except for the top of the head and back, responds to touch.
At three or four months my rooting reflex is present, as my mouth is opened to nurse, and my head turns toward the stimulus. At month four or five glands are present in the skin, and hair is present on the scalp. My father’s cousin and my father were both bald at birth, but I suspect if one looked for them, tiny hairs would have been visible to the eye, but not the camera. At five to six months I respond to pressure, movements, noxious stimuli, heat, cold, light, and taste. At seven months my legs practice walking movements, and I do somersaults. My great-grandfather used to start his day and stimulate his circulation by doing somersaults in his bed. At eight months I have a firm hand grasp - let’s shake on a deal!
My father's work in medicine resulted in a lot of touching, poking, and prodding. The touch of the hands is important as a diagnostic tool. Does it hurt when I do this? Is the liver enlarged? Is there a mass when the rectum is prodded? A complete, thorough medical history is a better diagnostic tool than the laying of hands, without speaking a word, in determining the cause of an ailment. My father received a patient transfer, who reported the reason for changing physicians, was that her former doctor never physically touched her. My father wondered if the lady's black skin had anything to do with the doctor's unusual technique. Interestingly, the lady physician had darker skin herself, since she descended from India. Jesus touched the man, and he was healed. Jesus said, "Who touched me?" The woman had touched the fringe of his cloak, and she was healed.
I have been prodded, pushed, and touched by my mum, and many friends and family members during these formative months. The sensation I experience with these touches through my mum’s abdomen and the uterus is not as warm and close as I hope to experience on the outside. To quote my niece: “Hold me, Hold me”! This phrase reminds my father of a song: “Hold me, hold me…never let me go, just hold me…” I will take this moment to ask you to hold me in your thoughts if the distance separating us is such that we cannot touch. Please work with others so my 'cousins' around the globe and I will be recognized as members of Homo sapiens, and our dignity and human rights might be restored. Touche’!
With love,
Rose M. Bryo
Creation of Adam by God. Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo. CC 2.0 Generic.