Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!mailrus!purdue!decwrl!labrea!sri-unix!garth!smryan
From: smryan@garth.UUCP (Steven Ryan)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Not a possibly stupid question
Message-ID: <2128@garth.UUCP>
Date: 6 Dec 88 05:59:37 GMT
References: <11098@udenva.cair.du.edu>
Reply-To: smryan@garth.UUCP (Steven Ryan)
Organization: INTERGRAPH (APD) -- Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 21

>What does it mean, physiologically, when your arm or leg "falls
>asleep"?  Is it a "pinched" nerve, constricted blood circulation,
>and/or something else?  

Some artery is pinched closed and so no oxygen reaches the neurons and
they stop transmitting signals, hence the numbness. If blood flow is
not restored, the neurons will die.

Don't worry about that, though, unless you get drunk alot. You'll be
waken out even the deepest sleep unless drugs interfere.

A pinched nerve is something completely different. And very painful.

>Sorry to litter the net with such drivel, but I've just got to know.

The only stupid question is the one never asked.
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