The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus; pl.: umbiliciorumbilicuses; commonly known as the belly buttonortummy button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord.[1] All placentalmammals have a navel, although it is generally more conspicuous in humans.
The umbilicus is used to visually separate the abdomen into quadrants.[2]
The umbilicus is a prominent scar on the abdomen, with its position being relatively consistent among humans. The skin around the waist at the level of the umbilicus is supplied by the tenth thoracic spinal nerve (T10 dermatome). The umbilicus itself typically lies at a vertical level corresponding to the junction between the L3 and L4 vertebrae,[3] with a normal variation among people between the L3 and L5 vertebrae.[4]
Parts of the adult navel include the "umbilical cord remnant" or "umbilical tip", which is the often protruding scar left by the detachment of the umbilical cord. This is located in the center of the navel, sometimes described as the belly button. Around the cord remnant is the "umbilical collar", formed by the dense fibrous umbilical ring. Surrounding the umbilical collar is the periumbilical skin. Directly behind the navel is a thick fibrous cord formed from the umbilical cord, called the urachus, which originates from the bladder.[5]
The belly button is unique to each individual due to it being a scar, and various general forms have been classified by medical practitioners.[6][7][further explanation needed]
Outie: A navel consisting of the umbilical tip protruding past the periumbilical skin is an outie. Essentially any navel which is not concave.
Swirly/spiral: A rare form in which the umbilical cord scar forms a swirl shape.
Split: The protruding umbilical cord scar extends outwards, but is cleft in two by a fissure which extends part or all the way through the umbilical cord scar. This form is similar in appearance to a coffee bean.
Protrusion: The umbilical cord remnant is completely divulged, exposing the full umbilical scar.
Circlet: Although the entirety of the umbilical cord remnant sits out with the umbilical collar, the centre of the knot is inset by a deep fissure. Unlike a split outie, in this form the fissure is contained centrally and does not extend past the umbilical cord remnant in any direction, much akin to a 'donut' shape.[8]
Innie: A navel in which the umbilical tip does not protrude past the periumbilical skin. Any navel which is concave.
Round: Round navels are completely circular with no hooding.
Vertical: Some navels present in the form of a more elongate hollow parallel with the linea alba.
Oval: This form consists of three variants; superior hooding, inferior hooding, no hooding.
T-shaped: As the name states, the scar is in the shape of a T, and may have superior hooding to various extent.
Horizontal: The scar is the least visible, as the natural lines of the tendinous intersection fold over the scar.
Distorted: Any navel which does not fit well into any of the other categories.
Outies are sometimes mistaken for umbilical hernias; however, they are a completely different shape with no health concern, unlike an umbilical hernia. The navel (specifically abdominal wall) would be considered an umbilical hernia if the protrusion were 5 centimeters or more. The diameter of an umbilical hernia is usually 1/2-inch or more.[9] Navels that are concave are nicknamed "innies".[10] While the shape of the human navel may be affected by long term changes to diet and exercise, unexpected change in shape may be the result of ascites.[11]
In addition to change in shape being a possible side effect from ascites and umbilical hernias, the navel can be involved in umbilical sinus or fistula, which in rare cases can lead to menstrual or fecal discharge from the navel. Menstrual discharge from the umbilicus is a rare disorder associated with umbilical endometriosis.[12][13]
Omphalitis, an inflammatory condition of the umbilicus in the newborn, usually caused by a bacterial infection.[14][15]
Omphalophobia is the fear of belly buttons. People suffering from omphalophobia are terrified of belly buttons—their own or, in some cases, those of others. They do not like touching their belly buttons (or even other people touching it). Sometimes just seeing a belly button is enough to make them feel disgusted or terrified.[citation needed]
The public exposure of the male and female midriff and bare navel was considered taboo at times in the past in Western cultures, being considered immodestorindecent. Female navel exposure was banned in some jurisdictions, but community perceptions have changed to this now being acceptable.[19] The crop top is a shirt that often exposes the belly button and has become more common among young people.[20] Exposure of the male navel has rarely been stigmatised and has become particularly popular in recent years, due to the strong resurgence of the male crop top and male navel piercing.[21] The navel and midriff are often also displayed in bikinis, or when low-rise pants are worn.
While the West was relatively resistant to navel-baring clothing until the 1980s, it has long been a fashion with Indian women,[22] often displayed with sarisorlehengas.
The Japanese have long had a special regard for the navel. During the early Jōmon period in northern Japan, three small balls indicating the breasts and navel were pasted onto flat clay objects to represent the female body. The navel was exaggerated in size, informed by the belief that the navel symbolized the center where life began.[23]
In Arabic-Levantine culture, belly dancing is a popular art form that consists of dance movements focused on the torso and navel.[24]
Japanese women performing a traditional Japanese dance Yosakoi in navel-exposing attire in the Yosakoi Matsuri 2006 at Kōchi
Jennifer Lopez baring her midriff and belly button while singing in 2012
An example of Keely Hodgkinson's track & field uniform which exposes her midriff and belly button while running at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix in 2022
Katie Swan baring her midriff and outie belly button during a tennis match
Sofie Dossi's outie belly button while she prepares to shoot a bow
^"Anatomy & Physiology". Openstax college at Connexions. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
^Ellis, Harold (2006). Clinical Anatomy: Applied Anatomy for Students and Junior Doctors. New York: Wiley. ISBN1-4051-3804-1.[page needed]
^O'Rahilly, Ronan; Müller, Fabiola; Carpenter, Stanley; Swenson, Rand (2004). "Abdominal walls". Basic Human Anatomy: A Regional Study of Human Structure. Dartmouth Medical School. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
^Khati, Nadia J.; Enquist, Erik G.; Javitt, Marcia C. (1998). "Imaging of the Umbilicus and Periumbilical Region". Radiographics. 18 (2): 413–4. doi:10.1148/radiographics.18.2.9536487. PMID9536487.
^Shiffman, Melvin (2017). "7.3". Adult Umbilical Reconstruction: Principles and Techniques. Switzerland: Springer. p. 53. ISBN978-3-319-43885-6.
^Stephen Cullen, Thomas (1916). "2". Umbilicus. Australia: W.B.Saunders Company. p. 1.1–1.7. ISBN978-0-7334-2609-4.
^Meier, Donald E.; OlaOlorun, David A.; Omodele, Rachael A.; Nkor, Sunday K.; Tarpley, John L. (2001). "Incidence of Umbilical Hernia in African Children: Redefinition of 'Normal' and Reevaluation of Indications for Repair". World Journal of Surgery. 25 (5): 645–8. doi:10.1007/s002680020072. PMID11369993. S2CID22628578.
^Ceccanti, Silvia, et al. "Umbilical cord sparing technique for repair of congenital hernia into the cord and small omphalocele." Journal of Pediatric Surgery 52.1 (2017): 192-196.
^Bruekers, Sven E.; van der Lei, Berend; Tan, Tik L.; Luijendijk, Roland W.; Stevens, Hieronymus P. J. D. (2009). "'Scarless' Umbilicoplasty". Annals of Plastic Surgery. 63 (1): 15–20. doi:10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181877b60. PMID19546666. S2CID206034192.
Craig, Stefan B.; Faller, Mary S.; Puckett, Charles L. (2000). "In Search of the Ideal Female Umbilicus". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 105 (1): 389–92. doi:10.1097/00006534-200001000-00062. PMID10627008.
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