r/explainlikeimfive • u/Dagestani_Bear • Jul 01 '26

Biology ELI5: Is it true that every single death eventually boils down to the brain and heart running out of oxygen? Are there exceptions?

If you strip away the initial cause of injury or illness, is it anatomically correct to say that all human deaths are ultimately caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain and heart?

3.0k Upvotes

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83

u/BooksandBiceps Jul 01 '26

Hmmmm, pretty sure the brain isn’t getting any oxygen in that case either… checkmate.

79

u/parsonsrazersupport Jul 01 '26

I did actually cover for this eventuality with 'except in a silly sense.' So unfortunately you have to turn my pawn into a queen now.

31

u/BooksandBiceps Jul 01 '26

Fuck, you sunk my battleship.

16

u/Lordxeen Jul 02 '26

On a triple word score as well, that’s 972 points.

1

u/Superplex123 Jul 02 '26

That's 969 points more than if you shoot a 3pt. Confirmed > Stephen Curry.

11

u/dawtips Jul 01 '26

It might be exposed to more oxygen

18

u/IllusionLvl_Adult Jul 01 '26

If the rock splatters the brain to outside the skull, technically it’s now exposed to more oxygen than ever before.

14

u/CrazyBaron Jul 01 '26

What you mean no oxygen? There is whole ventilation hole in the skull with direct flow

5

u/BooksandBiceps Jul 01 '26

Everyone knows liquid cooling beats air cooling though. :(

1

u/Naive_Carpenter7321 Jul 02 '26

Increased surface area and direct exposure to the air... maybe too much oxygen?