Why do we Cry?

Why do People Cry?

Believe it or not, there are many reasons why people cry. Don’t accept? Read on and you will see!

Tears can be classified into three different kinds

1. Basal tears
2. Reflex tears
3. Emotional tears

Let’s now take a closer look at these.

Basal Tears

This kind of tear is always present in our eyes. This tear is what acts as a lubricant and keeps our eyes from drying out completely. An approximation shows that the human body produces about 5 to 10 ounces of basal tears everyday!

Reflex Tears

These are the tears that stream down our eyes when onions sting. In short, the job of the reflex tear is to protect the human eye from harsh irritants such as smoke, onions or even a very strong, dusty wind. The eye can accomplish this feat thanks to the sensory nerves in the cornea. These nerves pick up on an irritation and communicate it to the brain stem. Hormones are then sent to the glands in the eyelids which cause the eyes to produce tears while effectively getting rid of the irritating substance.

Emotional Tears

These, we are all aware of. These tears start at the cerebrum where all our perception, imagination, thought, judgment, and decision is stored. The endocrine system releases the hormones to the ocular area which in turn causes the tears to form. And so, these tears stream down when an overwhelming emotion is felt.

4 Fun Facts about Tears

1. A research shows that women cry about 5.3 times per month while men cry about 1.4 times every month.
2. An estimate shows that most babies cry for about 1 to 3 hours a day.
3. If these is an overflow of tears, they start running out of your nose! This results in a blocked nose after a great sob-fest.
4. Why do onions make you cry? Blame it on Syn-propanethial-S-oxide, the chemical irritant that stings the eyes.

Get more Information

Here is a video information on how does the human eye work.