AboutWalter Hintz Expertise Science teacher for over 50 years. MSc. in biology. I can answer questions in general biology, zoology, botany, anatomy and physiology and biochemistry.
Experience I have a MSc in biology and have been a science teacher for over 50 years. At present I am a faculty member at a college and a science consultant at seven catholic schools.
Publications The Ohio journal of Science
Momentum-The Journal of the Catholic Education Association
Question What is the scientific basis for when we feel itchy in some part of the body, that we get this urge to scratch it, and that when we do scratch it we feel a sense of pleasure indicating that this is what the body needs. Why? What is happening on a biological level?
Answer Hi Martin;
It is thought that an itch is stimulation of free nerve endings, the skin receptors which are the pain nerve endings. Itching is therefore a mild stimulus to the free nerve endings. Tickling also involves free nerve endings as well as touch receptors. To some it is painful while to others it is pleasurable Scratching causes a release of histamines which increases the itching. You may notice that when you first scratch the itching at first gets worse. Itching is unpleasant and the scratching eventually relieves the stimulus.
