What is the purpose of body hair

Question

i understand why there is hair in your nose but why do we have leg hair, arm hair, pubic hair, armpit hair and such..............just curious.

my husband asked me and i was unable to give him a good answer

Answer 1

I like a big harry monkey...that is s**y

Answer 2

We have leg hair, arm hair, back hair because our ape ancestors had hair all over and there hasn't been a mutation which would make us completely lose it.

Pubic hair and armpit hair serves to deter biting flies from biting sensitive moist areas, which would cause infection.  You wear clothes and don't live in a part of the world in which there are biting flies, but we had  ancestors who lived in a warm part of Africa.

Answer 3

A think coat of hair USED to be for protection from the elements such as heat (blocks the sun) and cold (insulation).  Slowly over time, the hair that has been less important to survival has receeded.

Its critical to regulate the tempertaure of the brain being as it is the funtamental regulator of all other bodily funcitons.  If it gets too hot or two cold it stops working, hair on your head protects the brain.

Humans, just like animials, release phermones... subliminal messages via scent.  These smells help species communicate, they can help tell when a prospective partner is ready to mate.  The arm pit is a nice warm and dark area that is great for producing these smells.  By having hair there, there is more area for the smells to attach themselves and can be easily spread by air moving across the hair.  In the past 5000 years humans have formed an audible method of communication that does not require smells, but the hair still remains.

Pubic hair is present because it forms a net to catch s***n after sexual intercourse.  It provides a means to help keep seamen from spilling out away from the v****a.  This increases chances of sexual reporduction.

Answer 4

Way back when we (humans) were just evolving from some ape-like creature there was a need for body hair.  It helped to insulate us and also act as a natural barrier to some insects and bugs.

Look at some of the races of people that emerged from hot climates and they do not have a preponderance of body hair.  But, you look at some races that come from colder climates and you will see more body hair in general.

  

Answer 5

Our ancestor was an arboreal fruit-eating primate. We subsequently lost most of the hair on our body.

Answer 6

it's because of a male hormone called androgens. both genders have it. so i guess this is when body hair looks better in males, and women convinced more to shave their leg and arm pit hair, don't ya think?

Answer 7

  It's left over from before we started wearing clothes.

Answer 8

Protection is one of the major functions of body hair. Hair on the head can protect from the sun, heat and cold. Eye lashes are to prevent particles going into your eyes, thus causing you to blink (a simple reflex) to prevent from more dirt etc. to flying in. Underarm hair, you can say, is a dry lubricant (The same goes for pubic hair)  When you're cold you get goosebumps, the raising of hair allows to capture heat in to the body. Hair in general can serve as a sensory receptor. It increases stimulation.