• Question: Why do we cry tears?

    Asked by dyaskelly to Ben, Ezzy, Mario, Sam on 21 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Elizabeth Pearson

      Elizabeth Pearson answered on 21 Mar 2012:


      Tears keep the eye moist. If you keep your eyes open for a long time they dry out and get damaged. If you have too much fluid on the eye though it falls as a tear.

      why do we cry when we’re sad or happy? I don’t know. It could just be a physical after effect of the sobbing/laughing process.

    • Photo: Sam Vinko

      Sam Vinko answered on 21 Mar 2012:


      I’m not sure we know for definite; there seems to be a connection between the brain and the tear duct next to your eyes so that emotional responses trigger tears. From the evolutionary point of view this could be useful to draw sympathy and help, or indicate submission. It could also help release stress.

      Crying is a strange thing in a way as tear ducts have a biologically different, and very specific purpose: provide moisture there to make sure our eyes dont dry out.

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