What Alcohol Does to Your Body

Summary

This educational video delves into the journey of alcohol through the human body, highlighting its absorption from the mouth, down the esophagus, into the stomach, and primarily the small intestine. It discusses the liver's role in metabolizing alcohol into acetaldehyde and then acetate, emphasizing the impact on various organs. The video also addresses the effects of alcohol on the brain, hormonal system, and the mysterious nature of hangovers, advocating for responsible drinking.

Takeaways

• 🍻 Alcohol, or ethanol, is absorbed by mucosal tissues in the mouth, although the majority continues to the stomach and small intestine where most absorption occurs.
• 🔁 The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing alcohol, using enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase to convert ethanol into acetaldehyde and then into less harmful acetate.
• 🚫 Alcohol is a toxin that can have negative effects on various organs and tissues, despite some studies suggesting potential benefits from moderate consumption.
• 🍽 Consuming food with alcohol can slow down the absorption rate due to the pyloric sphincter's action, which controls the release of stomach contents into the small intestine.
• 💨 Alcohol is eliminated from the body not only through the liver but also through breathing and perspiration.
• 🧠 Alcohol affects the brain by interacting with neurotransmitters and endorphins, leading to lowered inhibitions, impaired cognitive function, and potentially altered behavior.
• 💧 Alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration due to its diuretic effect, which is influenced by the suppression of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).
• 🚺 Individual responses to alcohol can vary based on factors like sex, body fat percentage, age, genetics, and the presence of food in the stomach.
• 🤢 Hangovers, which are characterized by symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and headache, are thought to result from a combination of factors including dehydration, toxin buildup, and the effects of acetaldehyde.
• ⏱ The body's ability to process alcohol is influenced by the amount consumed and the time frame, which can impact how alcohol is metabolized and the severity of hangover effects.

Q & A

What is the primary message of the video regarding alcohol consumption?

The video emphasizes that while alcohol, or ethanol, can be part of celebrations and enjoyment, it is ultimately a toxin that interacts with various organs and tissues in the body, leading to potential health risks and hangovers.

How much alcohol is absorbed in the mouth during drinking?

A very small amount of alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the mouth, with the majority continuing to the stomach and small intestine for absorption.

What role does the epiglottis play when drinking alcohol?

The epiglottis acts as a gatekeeper, preventing fluid from entering the airway and diverting it into the esophagus, thus avoiding choking.

How does the pyloric sphincter in the stomach affect alcohol absorption?

The pyloric sphincter can regulate the speed at which alcohol passes into the small intestine. When the stomach is empty, it opens more, allowing alcohol to enter the bloodstream more quickly; with food, it tightens, slowing the absorption process.

What is the function of the mucosal tissue in the stomach?

The mucosal tissue in the stomach secretes mucus to protect the stomach from its own hydrochloric acid and also absorbs alcohol, allowing it to enter the bloodstream.

Why is the liver considered an amazing organ in relation to alcohol consumption?

The liver is capable of true regeneration due to its frequent exposure to toxins like ethanol. It also plays a crucial role in metabolizing alcohol through enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase.

How does alcohol affect the brain and lead to changes in behavior?

Alcohol affects neurotransmitters and the secretion of endorphins in the brain, leading to lowered inhibitions, euphoria, and impaired cognitive abilities and reflexes, which can result in riskier and more impulsive behavior.

What is the connection between alcohol consumption and dehydration?

Alcohol lowers the secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), leading to increased urination and loss of electrolytes, which contributes to dehydration. This dehydration is a significant factor in hangovers.

How does the video script describe the process of a hangover?

The script suggests that hangovers are multifaceted, involving dehydration, lack of sleep, and physical exertion, with acetaldehyde, a more toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism, being a leading culprit in hangover symptoms.

What are some of the factors that influence how alcohol affects individuals differently?

Factors such as sex, body fat percentage, age, genetics, and the presence of food or other drinks in the stomach can influence how alcohol is metabolized and its effects on an individual.

What is the video's recommendation for dealing with a hangover?

The video suggests that there is no proven remedy for hangovers other than time, although it humorously mentions personal anecdotes like eating a greasy breakfast and drinking sports drinks as common but unverified hangover 'cures'.

Outlines

00:00

🍻 Introduction to Alcohol's Journey in the Body

The video begins by acknowledging St. Patrick's Day and the cultural significance of alcohol in celebrations. It emphasizes that while alcohol, or ethanol, can be enjoyed responsibly, it is fundamentally a toxin. The narrator, who identifies as a bourbon enthusiast, clarifies that the video will explore the path alcohol takes through the body, the organs it interacts with, and the effects that lead to hangovers. The journey starts in the oral cavity, where a minuscule amount of alcohol is absorbed through the mucosal lining, and continues down the esophagus to the stomach, which absorbs about 10-15% of the alcohol. The narrator uses a bisected head model to illustrate this process and explains the role of the epiglottis in preventing alcohol from entering the windpipe.

05:01

🍽️ The Role of the Stomach and Small Intestine in Alcohol Absorption

This segment delves into the absorption of alcohol in the stomach, where the pyloric sphincter's openness depends on whether the stomach is empty or full. On an empty stomach, alcohol passes quickly into the small intestine, which is responsible for absorbing the majority of it. The narrator uses a second stomach model to demonstrate the gastric rugae and explains the stomach's mucosal lining, which secretes mucus to protect from stomach acid and also absorbs alcohol. The video then transitions to discuss the small intestine's extensive surface area, facilitated by the mesentery, which is crucial for nutrient and alcohol absorption. The journey of alcohol through the digestive system is visualized with the help of cadaveric specimens, highlighting the liver's role as the next major organ in alcohol metabolism.

10:04

🔁 The Liver's Detoxification Process

The video explains the liver's ability to regenerate due to the constant exposure to toxins, including ethanol. It details the liver's role in metabolizing alcohol through the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which converts ethanol into the more toxic acetaldehyde. A second enzyme further converts acetaldehyde into less harmful acetate. The narrator discusses how the liver's efficiency in this process is influenced by the quantity and pace of alcohol consumption, leading to乙醇 entering the bloodstream if the liver is overwhelmed. The heart then pumps this blood to the lungs, where alcohol can be detected on one's breath, illustrating the principle behind breathalyzers. The video also touches on how alcohol affects other body tissues, with the exception of bones and fatty tissues due to ethanol's water solubility.

15:09

🏃‍♂️ Alcohol's Impact on the Brain and Body Functions

This part of the video focuses on the effects of alcohol on the brain and the body's physiological responses. It describes how alcohol stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased heart rate and sweating. The narrator explains the impact on muscle tissue, where alcohol can hinder protein synthesis, which can affect muscle recovery and growth after exercise. The journey of alcohol in the bloodstream leads to the brain, where it interacts with neurotransmitters and affects the secretion of endorphins, leading to lowered inhibitions, euphoria, and impaired cognitive and reflexive abilities. The video humorously illustrates how these effects can lead to poor decision-making, such as the impulse to shout and act inappropriately while under the influence.

20:11

💧 Alcohol's Effects on Hydration and Electrolyte Balance

The video discusses how alcohol affects the hormonal system, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which controls the body's hormonal balance. It explains how alcohol influences the secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), leading to increased urination and dehydration. The narrator uses a kidney dissection to illustrate how alcohol affects kidney function and electrolyte balance, contributing to hangover symptoms. The video also addresses the factors that influence how alcohol affects individuals differently, such as sex, body fat percentage, age, genetics, and the presence of food in the stomach. It acknowledges the mystery surrounding hangovers and the general lack of effective remedies beyond time and rehydration.

25:12

🙏 Conclusion and Gratitude to Body Donors

In the final segment, the narrator concludes the video by reiterating the importance of responsible drinking, especially during celebrations like St. Patrick's Day. They express gratitude to those who donate their bodies to science, allowing for educational insights into human anatomy and physiology. The narrator emphasizes the value of hands-on learning from cadavers and encourages viewers to engage with the content by liking, commenting, and subscribing. They humorously suggest that avoiding inappropriate behavior while intoxicated is a win and invite viewers to share their hangover remedies, acknowledging the ongoing search for effective solutions.

Keywords

💡Alcohol

Alcohol, specifically ethanol, is a central theme in the video as it discusses the effects and journey of alcohol through the human body. Defined as a toxin, it is absorbed in various parts of the digestive system, including the mouth, stomach, and small intestine. The video explains that while small amounts might have health benefits, it is generally not considered healthy due to its toxic nature. The script uses alcohol as a starting point to explore the body's physiological responses, such as the feeling of intoxication and subsequent hangovers.

💡Mucosal tissue

Mucosal tissue lines the inner surface of the oral cavity and stomach, playing a crucial role in absorbing alcohol into the bloodstream. The video script explains that even though a small amount of alcohol is absorbed through the mouth during wine tasting, the majority continues to the stomach where a more significant absorption occurs. This concept is vital for understanding how quickly alcohol can affect the body.

💡Epiglottis

The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that prevents food and drink from entering the windpipe. As described in the script, it acts as a gatekeeper, diverting the swallowed alcohol into the esophagus and away from the trachea. This mechanism is essential for the safe passage of alcohol (and food) into the digestive system.

💡Pyloric sphincter

Located at the base of the stomach, the pyloric sphincter controls the release of content into the small intestine. The video explains that its openness is influenced by whether the stomach is empty or full, affecting the rate at which alcohol enters the bloodstream. This concept is key to understanding how food can slow alcohol absorption.

💡Small intestine

The small intestine is where the majority of alcohol absorption occurs, as highlighted in the video. It is responsible for absorbing nutrients from digested food and, in the case of alcohol consumption, absorbing ethanol into the bloodstream. The script emphasizes that the small intestine's role is significant in the overall impact of alcohol on the body.

💡Liver

The liver plays a critical role in metabolizing alcohol, as detailed in the video. It uses enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase to convert ethanol into acetaldehyde, which is then further broken down into less harmful substances. The liver's ability to regenerate is also mentioned, highlighting its resilience against the damaging effects of toxins like alcohol.

💡Hormonal system

The video discusses how alcohol affects the hormonal system, particularly through the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. It explains that alcohol influences the secretion of hormones like cortisol and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), leading to physiological responses such as increased urination and dehydration. This aspect of the video underscores the broad impact of alcohol on the body's regulatory mechanisms.

💡Dehydration

Dehydration is a common consequence of alcohol consumption, as explained in the video. It results from the diuretic effect of alcohol, which reduces the secretion of ADH and increases urine production. The script mentions dehydration as a significant contributor to hangover symptoms, such as fatigue and nausea.

💡Hangover

A hangover is the collective term for the symptoms experienced after alcohol consumption, including headache, nausea, and fatigue. The video script suggests that hangovers are caused by a combination of factors, such as dehydration, the toxic effects of acetaldehyde, and the body's stress response. The concept of a hangover is integral to the video's message about responsible drinking.

💡Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals that help maintain the body's fluid balance and nerve function. The video explains that alcohol consumption can lead to the loss of electrolytes through increased urination, contributing to dehydration and making rehydration more difficult. This concept is important for understanding the physiological changes that occur during and after alcohol consumption.

💡Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that facilitate communication between neurons. The video script mentions that alcohol affects neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate, leading to changes in mood, behavior, and cognitive function. Understanding the role of neurotransmitters is crucial for grasping how alcohol influences brain activity and overall body responses.

Highlights

Alcohol, or ethanol, is a toxin that can have both short-term and long-term effects on the body.

Small amounts of daily alcohol consumption may have health benefits, but overall it is not considered healthy.

The oral cavity can absorb a very small amount of alcohol, but most continues to the stomach.

The stomach is the first place where alcohol is significantly absorbed, with about 10-15% being absorbed there.

The pyloric sphincter in the stomach regulates the speed at which alcohol enters the small intestine.

The small intestine is where the majority of alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream.

The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing alcohol with the help of enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase.

Acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol metabolism, is more toxic than ethanol itself.

The liver converts acetaldehyde into acetate, which is less harmful and can be easily processed by the body.

Alcohol affects the brain by interacting with neurotransmitters and causing lowered inhibitions and cognitive abilities.

Alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration due to its diuretic effects on the kidneys.

Hangovers are a complex result of dehydration, toxin buildup, and the body's response to alcohol.

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are key in regulating the body's hormonal response to alcohol.

Individual differences such as sex, age, and genetics can influence how alcohol affects a person.

There is no proven remedy for hangovers, and time is the most effective solution.

The video concludes with a reminder to drink responsibly and a tribute to those who donate their bodies to science.

Transcripts

St. Patrick's Day is upon us!

And while the Irish holiday has a very  rich cultural and religious history that  

should be respected and at the forefront  of any celebration, it's also become a day  

for many to let loose and enjoy themselves  an alcoholic beverage or two — or more...

In today's video we're going to take a look at  

the pathway alcohol takes as  it travels through your body.

We're going to see the various organs and  tissues that it interacts with along that way,  

and we're even going to discuss that "oh  so wonderful" feeling called a hangover.

There's a lot to do, so let's do this!

First and foremost I have to get  this out of the way — alcohol,  

or more properly known as  ethanol — is a legitimate toxin.

While there are studies that have shown that  small amounts of daily alcohol consumption  

can actually be good for you, those studies  are pretty inconsistent with each other and  

you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody willing  to say that alcohol is overall healthy for you.

And this is not me judging you by the  way. Personally, I am a bourbon man.

It's one of my favorite ways to wind down.

But there's never been a point as I'm sipping on  the bourbon that the cells in my body are like,  

"yes!! More toxic ethanol for us to  detoxify and potentially get harmed from!!"

But with that said if you are  an adult of legal drinking age  

and you're partaking responsibly,  all the power to you!

I'm not gonna get in your way.

Just know that it's not good for you.

Okay? Okay!

I'm glad we had this talk.

To the cadavers!

Obviously the very first place the  alcohol is going to enter your body  

is going to be the mouth or the oral cavity.

And we can see that very thing right here.

But this is a bisected head  in the mid-sagittal plane.

So that means that we've cut  it right down the center.

And that allows us to see a ton of really cool  anatomy such as this gigantic tongue, the mandible  

here, you can see the roof of the mouth, or the  hard palate, and then the soft palate behind it.

And then this little flappy thing  is called the epiglottis and we'll  

see that, or more what it does in just a second.

But the thing to really understand is that lining  the tongue, and lining the cheeks — in fact  

lining the entire inner surface of  your oral cavity — is mucosal tissue.

A mucosal lining that really just kind  of helps keep things lubricated, and  

just humid inside of your mouth.

But the thing to understand is that  it's capable of absorbing alcohol.

In fact they did a study  with some wine tasters to see  

how much alcohol is getting absorbed  when they're doing their wine tastings.

Think about it — as they sip the wine  they slosh it around, and spit it out,  

they may not be drinking it but it's spending a  considerable amount of time in their mouth and it  

makes sense to figure out if some of  that's been absorbed in the bloodstream.

And it turns out, a very small amount  is — and I mean a very small amount.

So that means when you're casually drinking,  a very extraordinarily small amount of  

that alcohol is being directly absorbed  into your bloodstream from your mouth.

But the vast majority of it is going to  continue on, and it's going to bypass  

the tongue and enter this next area  called the pharynx or your throat.

And that's where that epiglottis is going  to come down and block off the airway.

This is the upper portion of  your trachea, or your windpipe,  

and that makes this your voice box, or the larynx.

And you obviously don't want the fluid  going down into your airway, so the  

epiglottis diverts it and pushes it into the  esophagus — that's what you're looking at here.

And the esophagus is your food tube, or I guess  in this instance it'd be a food and a drink tube.

In fact, I have another  esophagus for us to look at here.

Now this is going to look a little weird and be  probably somewhat difficult to wrap your mind  

around, but this portion — this is the larynx, or  your voice box, and this is the "Adam's Apple".

So that means you're looking at  an anterior view of the trachea.

This is the thyroid gland and that  makes this part of the tongue.

But what we really want to focus on is — I'm  going to slide the trachea, and that nerve  

with with it to the side — and  we see this is the esophagus.

It's just a muscular tube that is connecting that  pharynx up here, all the way down to the stomach.

So the stomach is actually going to be  the very first real place that alcohol  

is going to be absorbed into the body, and it's  somewhere around 10 — maybe 15 or so percent.

The vast majority of alcohol is going  to get absorbed in the small intestine,  

which we'll see in a second.

But you can see on this stomach right here,  this — if I can hold this up properly — is  

the end of the esophagus, and  then it turns into the stomach.

And it's just kind of curving over to the right.

But this at the bottom — I guess  I should say here at the base  

of the stomach — we have this really important  structure called the pyloric sphincter.

So this section of the stomach from here until  the small intestine starts is called the pylorus,  

and inside of there is a very strong  sphincter called the pyloric sphincter.

And the reason why this sphincter is so important  

is because it's literally a gatekeeper  — that's what pylorus means.

If you drink alcohol on an empty stomach, the  pyloric sphincter is going to be more open  

and the alcohol is going to just  enter into the small intestine,  

meaning that on an empty stomach alcohol is  going to get into your bloodstream quicker.

But if you have food or some other drink,  

what's going to happen is inside the stomach a  bunch of stomach acid is going to be secreted,  

and this pyloric sphincter is actually  going to pinch tight — pinch shut.

And it'll slowly start opening it, kind of just  

casually opens just a little bit here and  there, and that's called gastric emptying.

And it's at a very specific rate — well  more or less specific — and that means  

if you have food with your alcohol, it's going  to get into your bloodstream, well — delayed.

It's not going to happen right away.

At least the majority of it.

But like I said, some of the alcohol is  capable of being absorbed in the stomach.

In fact, I have a different stomach for us to look  at — which would be right here if I can get this  

organized for you — and this  stomach has actually been cut.

We've removed the pylorus, and that allows us  to do this — this is one of my favorite things,  

I love this — to reflect it like this.

You can see the inside of the stomach.

And you're looking at all these folds there,  

those are called gastric rugae, and  that literally means "stomach fold".

They're just really unique  and interesting to look at.

What I want you to picture is that  this entire inside of the stomach is  

also lined with mucosal tissue.

And that mucosal tissue  serves a variety of functions.

One of the most important being  to actually secrete mucus.

And that mucus prevents the stomach acid,  

or that hydrochloric acid, from  consuming the stomach itself.

It's kind of an important job.

But the thing to understand is that the alcohol  can be absorbed into that mucosal tissue,  

and then from there it can get into  the bloodstream and head to the liver.

So you can't — this, this is the entire reason why  

if you take a drink, after just a couple  minutes you're gonna start to feel a rush.

That's — even though the majority of the alcohol  actually hasn't gotten into your bloodstream yet,  

some of it has because it was absorbed through  the stomach here and then went to the liver.

But the rest of it is actually — if I can pull  this back — gonna go into your intestines.

And I'm going to kind of bring  them all over here... we're going  

to see this a little more clearly in  another cadaver section in a second.

But this is where the vast majority  of your absorption is going to occur,  

but that is going to take just a  little bit more time to pull off.

So let's go ahead and look at a  different cadaver and finish our journey.

Quick recap!

When you first drink alcohol, it went into your  oral cavity or your mouth, some of it got absorbed  

into the mucosal tissue and went directly into  your bloodstream, but it was a very small amount.

You then swallowed it and it went  down your esophagus into your stomach.

So the stomach on this cadaver here,  

is going to be located — hopefully  you can see this — just like that.

This is the stomach.

And it's hiding behind this massive organ that  we'll talk about in a second called the liver.

But what's going to happen, remember as  it sends it into the small intestine,  

the small intestine are  going to do that absorbing.

So the first place we can see the small intestine  

coming out on this cadaver  is going to be right here.

Now as I move these small intestines  you're going to notice something's  

different about it compared to the one  we just saw in that other dissection.

The intestines are attached to your body.

This is called the mesentery, and it's — the way I  

always talk about it with my students  is, I say — all those zombie movies?

They're wrong.

In the zombie movies you're getting like an  abdominal wound, and the guts are just dragging.

I mean it's possible — it's definitely possible.

But that's a pretty serious cut.

The intestines are attached and they need to be  because what they do is they absorb the nutrients.

But they have to absorb them to  somewhere — bring them to somewhere.

And if you look closely you're going  to see all these little blue lines.

Those are veins taking whatever they've  absorbed — so this would be any food or  

drink — any nutrients that went into the  stomach and got released in the intestines,  

is going to be absorbed into the mesentery,  and is then going to travel to the liver.

The same goes for anything  that's absorbed by the stomach.

And we did just see that alcohol, or ethanol, is  absorbed in some quantity by the stomach itself.

So the stomach and the mesentery in the intestines  are going to send the alcohol to the liver.

And look how big this thing is!

On top of it is the diaphragm  muscle that I've scooted up so  

we could get a pretty good  view of this liver here.

It's absolutely enormous!

This is the second largest organ in the  body if you count the skin as an organ.

And this thing is so amazing — it  has so many different functions.

But one of the coolest properties, I guess  you could say of it, is that it regenerates.

Most of your body does what's called  healing, and healing isn't all that cool.

Healing is a mixture of some  regeneration but mostly scarring.

Not the liver — the liver is  capable of true regeneration  

and that's because it takes so much abuse.

It's not just ethanol — there's other toxins  that get into your digestive tract that  

it has to try and detoxify through  some really interesting chemistry.

But throughout all that abuse it could take some  damage, so it needs to be able to regenerate.

Such an amazing organ!

But let's take a step back again.

So the alcohol goes into the liver and  this is where it's going to be met with  

an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase.

But I should also mention the stomach  also had alcohol dehydrogenase.

What this enzyme does,  

is it interacts with the ethanol and converts  it into something called acetaldehyde.

Here's the ironic thing — acetaldehyde is  actually more toxic than the ethanol itself.

And if that's where it was left  then we'd have a serious problem.

If — if — if we left just the acetaldehyde as  it was — oh, you'd be in a world of trouble.

But luckily the liver is also going to have  another enzyme that can convert that acetaldehyde  

into something known as acetate, and the body  can easily take care of acetate no problem.

Here's the thing — the amount of alcohol you  consume, and the time frame you consume it  

has a pretty strong influence on the liver's  ability to convert it all the way into acetate.

So what will happen is you drink it, it  gets absorbed, it's permeating the tissues,  

but it isn't able to handle the  entire workload all at once.

So some of that ethanol is gonna  make its way into the bloodstream.

Because the liver is then gonna send the  blood directly to the heart — and that's  

what this gigantic thing is here, I'll kind  of remove this — this is the pericardium.

You can see the heart here, and what's going  to happen is the heart is then going to beat  

and send that blood directly  to the lungs right next door.

And this is how alcohol can be on your breath.

Because as the ethanol gets in —  it's, remember it's in the blood,  

but it's going to go to the lung tissue,  

and inside of the lungs you have all these hollow  air sacs that are surrounded in capillaries.

And what will happen is the ethanol will evaporate  

into those little air sacs, and then as you  breathe out — so kind of picture if this could  

inflate — and then as you breathe out and it  kind of gets squished what's going to happen  

is that ethanol is going to go up your  respiratory tract and it's on your breath.

This is the entire premise behind  a breathalyzer and why it works.

So — kind of interesting that way — that you can  actually get rid of alcohol when you are drinking.

You're getting rid of alcohol  by simply breathing it out.

But not all of the ethanol is going to do that.

The rest of it's going to go back to the heart  

and then when that heart contracts  it's going to send the blood  

all the way up straight to the brain, and then  start distributing it throughout your entire body.

And this is something that's so important to take  

note of — ethanol is going to interact  with pretty much everything in your body  

except for bone tissue, because  it's just so hard, and fatty tissue.

Because you have to understand  ethanol is water soluble  

and fatty tissue is made of lipids  and oil and water do not mix.

If you've ever done that experiment  maybe back in elementary school.

So sure — some ethanol can get into your  fatty tissue, but it's a very small amount.

But everything else in your body...  so like I just said — your lungs...  

I don't know if you'll be able to  see this all that much — I'll kind  

of pull this tissue to the side — there's  this organ down here called the spleen.

Your gallbladder... everything in your  body is going to interact with the ethanol.

To what degree does the  ethanol have an effect on it?

There's a lot of factors that go into it.

It depends on how vascular that organ  and structure is in the first place.

It depends on your genetics... it  depends on your overall health.

So it's hard to give you a  real solid answer on that.

But a real interesting one is  what it does to muscle tissue.

Actually I should probably take a quick step back.

We're going to see the brain here in  a second, but you need to understand  

that ethanol actually stimulates what's  known as your sympathetic nervous system.

This is your "Fight or Flight"  aspect of your nervous system.

And what that means is it's going  to accelerate the heart rate.

So the heart's going to just start  beating, and as it starts beating  

it's going to start pushing the blood even  more forcefully to things like muscles.

It's also going to cause you to sweat.

This is why if you're drinking  you'll start sweating because  

your sympathetic nervous system is "going off".

But think of all the ethanol that is  hitting the skeletal muscle tissue.

And that can actually have an  effect on protein synthesis.

So let's say you went to the gym earlier that  day and you got a really great workout in,  

and then later that night you  decided to have a few drinks.

Well those drinks could possibly negate maybe not  entirely but a significant portion of your gains,  

because the alcohol prevents proteins from  being built inside of the muscle tissue.

Absolutely fascinating what's going on there!

So all right — alcohol is now —  if we kind of take a step back to  

kind of make this kind of a process...  alcohol is now heading straight for the brain.

So what we're going to do is we're going to  jump on over to some brains and check it out.

Okay! So blood is pumping straight to  the brain and that's what we have here.

So this upper portion is called the cerebrum, it's  highly folded and such an amazing structure — in  

fact I did an entire video on just this one  section here called the prefrontal cortex,  

so you should definitely go  check that out after this video.

This lower portion is called the cerebellum.

But what we really want to look at because it's so  cool, is if I flip it over, you can see that there  

— if you look closely that is — there's this gray  outer portion and then this white inner portion.

This is gray and white matter respectively.

The gray matter is where the cells of the brain  called neurons are communicating with each other.

So picture billions upon billions  of connections all happening in just  

this tiny little area I'm traversing with the  probe, and that's where they're just talking.

And they talk with the use of  something called neurotransmitters.

And I guarantee you've heard  of neurotransmitters before.

The two most famous are  probably dopamine and serotonin,  

but there's other ones like GABA and glutamate,  that ethanol is also going to affect.

And ethanol is also going to  affect the secretion of endorphins,  

which — let's put this all together.

So without getting too granular or  nitty-gritty, you're gonna have pleasure,  

you're gonna have euphoria, you're  gonna have lowered inhibitions,  

and you're gonna have lowered  cognitive ability and lowered reflexes.

When you bundle it all together — so  basically think about it like this...

When you lower inhibitions, that's when  things you start start saying and doing things  

that you normally wouldn't do.

When you're drinking alcohol also you get this  great idea — "what if I took off my pants,  

I jumped on the table, and i just  screamed, I'm King of the World!"

Anybody who's not drinking,  that is a terrible idea.

But someone who's five shots  of tequila in, that's smart!

Not only is it smart, it's necessary!

That just goes to show your choice-making  ability has gone out the window.

But you're literally thinking slower.

You're also euphoric.

You're happy about it!

It's a really strange combination.

But that is only the effect that it has on  

the neurological tissue — it's also  going to affect your hormonal system.

So what I want to do is look at another  dissection, and it's that sagittal head  

that we've already seen, so we can  focus on these two structures here.

So this first one that I'm traversing  with my probe is called the hypothalamus,  

and this is going to be just above another  really famous one known as the pituitary gland.

Together they form what's known as  the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

And that's a big word that's really  not all that necessary to remember.

Just understand that these two structures  control your entire hormonal system.

The hypothalamus is more or less  in charge of the pituitary gland.

So it'll secrete hormones that  boss around the pituitary gland.

But the hypothalamus is  constantly monitoring your body.

So when you start drinking,  the hypothalamus is aware of it  

and it's going to start adjusting  based off of the ethanol.

In fact it's going to basically tell the pituitary  gland to start bossing around your adrenal glands.

And your adrenal glands are what secrete cortisol,  

which is your stress hormone and epinephrine  and norepinephrine — also known as adrenaline.

So think about this... when you drink — not only  do you have diminished choice making ability, your  

inhibitions are gone, but now you're stressed and  you have adrenaline coursing through your system.

If you remember just a moment ago  

we talked about the sympathetic nervous system  and the heart rate increasing and all that.

So this is a pretty potent mixture.

But not only that, the pituitary gland  is also going to slow down its secretion  

of a hormone known as anti-diuretic hormone.

So a diuretic is something  that causes you to urinate.

So anti-diuretic hormone would mean  that you would hold on to water.

But what instead happens, is ethanol  

influences the secretion of ADH, and that's  going to have a pretty big effect on your kidney.

See the kidney is going to —  this is a really cool dissection.

So you can see a bunch of amazing structures  in here, and these are just renal pyramids.

And this outer portion is called the cortex  of the kidney and inside of here are all these  

tiny little filtration units  that are filtering blood.

You see, blood gets pumped — let's see if I can  

grab this — through this artery  here called the renal artery.

And that is then going to go to the  outside of the kidney and get filtered into  

urine, which will then be dropped  down this long tube called the ureter,  

and then the bladder, and then the outside world.

That means your urine was once blood.

Well — now, the ADH isn't being  secreted, the blood vessel — so  

think about that — so another name for ADH,  or anti-diuretic hormone, is vasopressin.

And I like that name because it sounds  like you're pressing on blood vessels.

Because that's what it'll do.

It'll actually constrict the blood  vessels inside of the kidney,  

meaning less blood volume is able to go and  get filtered, meaning you make less urine.

But if you're drinking alcohol what's gonna happen  instead is you are going to be peeing a lot.

I remember I used to — before  I knew any of this years ago,  

I used to be confused... like I'd have one  beer... like I'd try to do the math in my head.

I'm like, "okay. I drank that  much... but I peed that much..."

It never made any sense to me, but  that's because of the lowered ADH.

But what that means is you  are now dehydrating yourself.

You're getting rid of all this fluid — and more  

fluid than you're bringing in  through the alcoholic beverage.

That also means the inside  of here — without getting too  

nitty-gritty into it — in order to  make this whole process efficient,  

the kidney is going to start dropping  electrolytes into the urinary tract.

And so that means as you urinate, you're  going to start losing electrolytes.

And this is going to be kind of important when  

we're talking about — or may  be important — with hangovers.

But just think about it like this — not only  are you dehydrated, you're also lowering your  

ability to rehydrate because electrolytes  are what attract water back into your body.

So I'm sure you're starting to see  where this is all going... you're  

jacked out of your mind on  adrenaline and stress hormone...  

you are making bad decisions, you're happy  about it, and you gotta pee all the time!

I mean, if that does not sum up the  alcohol experience, I don't know what does!

At the same time though, alcohol doesn't affect  every single individual in the exact same way.

There are certain things that  affect how it effects you.

So for instance, sex is a large one.

You see, females have a  higher body fat percentage.

And so let's say, I had a male and  a female who weighed the exact same  

and they drank the exact amount  of same amount of alcohol.

Well what would happen, since  the female has a higher body fat  

percentage, that also means she  actually has less blood volume.

So that same amount of alcohol is more  concentrated in her lower blood volume  

than it would be for the male, meaning it  can actually affect her more intensely.

But things like age are also  going to play a giant role.

You have things like genetics.

There's certain people that just aren't able  to produce the enzymes in enough quantity  

to properly break down alcohol.

Like we mentioned earlier — do you have food in  your stomach? Do you have drink in your stomach?

These things are all going  to play a pretty big role.

But we haven't even talked about what happens  

after all of this... after  all the fun — the hangover.

Hangovers are actually still pretty mysterious.

We have general ideas, like I can tell you a  hangover is essentially because you're dehydrated,  

lack of sleep, just maybe physically beat  up because who knows what you're doing...  

like jumping on tables saying  you're the "King of the World".

We can say like generally there's all these  little things that add up to create the hangover.

But if you actually start  trying to break down specific  

pathophysiology — the real causes — it gets  kind of hard to figure out what's going on.

One of the leading culprits — at least what we  

think — is that acetaldehyde  that we mentioned earlier.

So remember, acetaldehyde is more  toxic than the ethanol itself.

And so the idea is that too much acetaldehyde  can actually start to create that hangover,  

or at least some of the symptoms of that hangover.

Which I should probably mention the symptoms!

I mean they're going to be things like —  and these are everybody's favorite, right?

You've all been there.

Diarrhea, nausea, possible vomiting,  just fatigue — you're just exhausted.

And you have an extreme loss of  appetite, which is interesting because  

if we're talking about how to overcome  the hangover, there's also not a lot of  

real understanding as to what  can solve it other than time.

I don't about know you, but I've heard  probably every single remedy under the sun.

I used to be in the United States Marine Corps,  

and if any of you know about United  States Marines — we like to drink.

And so I remember hearing so many different  remedies after a weekend of just harsh  

inappropriate drinking.

And my go-to was actually — please don't judge  me too harshly for this — my go-to was about as  

greasy of a breakfast sandwich from  McDonald's as I could possibly get,  

and then some kind of sports  drink like a Gatorade or Powerade.

And I did that because someone told me that would  fix it at some point, and I just kept on doing it.

There's no evidence that that  actually helps all that much.

Some people will say coffee.

Some people say a shower.

Sleep is obvious — that's  definitely going to help.

But the only thing that's actually  been proven, is time itself.

You have to wait it out.

If you if you're just depending  — there's no magic pill.

Although, I am curious to see if you can  leave it in the comments below what you may  

have heard, or what you do, or what you  swear by, because don't get me wrong — like  

I still to this day, despite everything I  know... if I do have a hangover, my first  

inkling is I gotta go get some really gross  breakfast sandwich, and that's gonna fix it.

And what's funny is it never  does, but I keep doing it anyways.

Again — please try not to judge me too harshly...

Thanks for watching everyone!

I had a blast filming this video,  but I wanted to take a moment  

and just give my thanks to those  who donate their body's to science.

Because while I'm trying to make this lighthearted  and fun so we can at least enjoy this,  

I also want to be respectful and understand  the amazing gift that they have given.

Because without their generous gift, we  wouldn't be able to show these types of things.

What I often tell my students  is — five minutes with a kidney,  

or five minutes with any structure really, you  learn more than in five hours in the classroom.

Or maybe you learn something different that  you just couldn't learn in the classroom.

And so as fun as we're having with this video,  it's nice to be able to see these structures  

so you can better understand and hopefully  make better decisions with your drinking.

Especially with St. Patrick's Day, or I don't  know — maybe it's Wednesday — for any of you.

But again, I just wanted to extend my thanks  

and gratitude to those who  donate their body's to science.

But as always, please like, comment,  subscribe if you haven't already.

Which if you haven't — what are you doing?

We try to make videos like once a week.

Sometimes twice a week.

And if the stars align, we would love to  push it to three to four videos per week.

But make sure you hit that notification bell  

so you'll be the first person to  see the videos as they come out.

But if you're gonna go drinking  please, do so responsibly.

And try not to take your pants off  and say you're King of the World...

If you don't do that, as far  as I'm concerned — it's a win.