Superhuman Anatomy

From Activating Evolution

Superhuman Anatomy, also called Superhuman Physiology is the presence of anatomical features within a superhuman that are normally absent within a normal human (or even some other superhumans). They may be any of the following:

• Abnormal Systemic Capacity may imply anywhere from Superhuman Respiration, Superhuman Metabolism to other things like Superhuman Cardiac Capacity, Superhuman Memory (better than normal memory, but not total recall; that is Panmnesia), Superhuman Neuronal Capacity (enhanced agility, dexterity and reflexes) or the like.

• Abnormal Systemic Function implies that some body part (or system), works differently than those of normal humans. It may serve another purpose in lieu of (and/or along with) what humans normally use them for, or may occur in an irregular or anomalous manifestation. This may range as follows:

-Bones/Skeleton: Hollow Bones (like a bird), Magnetic Bones, Psionic Bones (which are composed of, and/or conduct, psionic energy), Dissociated Bones (skeleton held together by psychic power, not joints; prevents breakage), Bioluminescent Bones (good for normal Bioluminescence and detection of broken bones)

-Blood: Acid Blood, Poison Blood, Mind Controlling Blood (also called Inhibition-Negating Blood, Obedience-Inducing Blood or Dominating Blood which, upon physical contact with living subjects, makes them susceptible to user’s commands), Explosive Blood (explodes/ignites when user is cut), Gaseous Blood

-Brain: Numerous Brains (more than one), Brain Cloud (neuron particles hover around subject’s head in a nearly-invisible cloud, not contained in head), Strange Brain Location (within the chest, taking the place of the nervous system, etc.), Exposed Brain (brain is not covered by skull top and scalp), Autonomous Brain (may be spherical, revolving around the head instead of contained inside his head, etc.), Pliable Brain/Spinal Cord

-Digestive Tract: Hyperelastic Digestive Tract (eat more food, resist “full” feeling, bowels never impacted, prevents constipation), Flexible Iron Stomach (highly resistant to digestive upset), Lubricated Alimentary Canal (prevents choking, food goes down easier), Vibrating Intestines (assists food breakdown/processing), Vaporizing Digestive Tract (food vaporized, particulate nutrients taken in, all wastes released as gases)

-Eyes: Strange-Colored Eyes (specify; may glow), Oddly-Numbered Eyes (more/less than two), Oddly-Designed Eyes (specify), Motion-Detecting Eyes (for a blind user), Glass Eye (milky color, not connected by optic nerves, controlled psychically), Compound Eyes (like an insect), Physical Circumspect (numerous eyes positioned around head, or second pair in back of head), Optic Automatism (eyes move autonomously)

-Face: Facelessness (may imply user has no need to breathe/eat; may speak telepathically), Divided Face (also called Split Face; half looks like one person, half looks like another; may imply multiple personalities), Numerous Noses (enhanced smell capacity), No Nose, Stationary Features (doesn’t blink, cannot discern changes in emotions; communicates telepathically, face may only move when user eats, or he may not need to)

-Fat/Fatty Tissue: Extra Fat Layers (better heat retention, body temperature regulation), Hyperelastic Fat (body is bouncy, resists pain/harm), a Hump (stores some of ingested water in back’s fat cells; after drinking a great deal of liquid, he can go longer without needing to drink; prevents overheating, dehydration), No Fat/ Fatty Tissue (body fortified by psychic/psionic energy instead; maintains weight, no “heavy” feeling in user)

-Heart/Circulatory: Numerous Hearts (less stress on one heart’s effort, increase circulation), No Heart (chemical processes or psychic/psionic power regulates circulatory functions instead of the use of an actual heart), Hyperelastic Heart (resistance to heart attacks, heart stronger), Impenetrable Heart, Hyperelastic Blood Vessels (resistance to cutting damage), Impenetrable Blood Vessels (resistance to cutting damage)

-Immune System: Doubled/Multiplied White Blood Count, Self-Aware Antibodies (prevents autoimmunity, speeds up recovery time), Immune System Mimicry (cells are released from other organs, and are temporarily converted into antibodies/white blood cells when pathogens enter body), Immune Conversion (pathogens, bacteria, viruses are taken into body, reduced to constituents which are helpful to the body instead of harmful)

-Limbs/Hands/Feet/Fingers: Extra Arms (useable), Extra Legs (useable), Backward Legs (useable), Backward Arms (useable), Hooked/Sharp/Pointed Fingers (fingers are sharp/pointy/hooked, in the place of claws; this often implies the user has no fingernails; fingers may all come together to a point), No Fingerprints, Paws or Hooves instead of feet (hooves may be cloven), Webbed Hands/Feet (like an aquatic animal)

-Lungs/Breathing: Expandable Ribcage (hold breath longer, greater oxygen intake), Superfine Cilia (cilia in lungs pick up/dispose of more airborne toxins), Hyperelastic Diaphragm (less risk of hiccups, more coughing power, helps respiration), Filtered Respiration (respiratory system has netting-like airborne-toxin filtration), Oxygen Retention (whole body takes in oxygen; lungs draw on it to assist breathing in hostile environments)

-Mouth/Oral/Vocal: Poisonous Lips (also called Poisonous Kiss), Multiple Mouths, Multiple Voices (gills or the like produce multiple voices at once), Stridulous Voice (tinny like a robot or droning like a cicada; scream is deafening but not sonic in capacity), Razor-Sharp Teeth (normal, or sharp, like sharks’; maybe extra rows), Unhinging Jaws (come off their natural hinge to swallow larger-than-normal things, enhance vocal abilities)

-Muscle/Joints: Heat-Retaining Muscles (more work means greater heat, which can burn foes or keep user warm in cold environments), No Muscles (body is moved by psychic power channeled through bones), Hyperelastic Joints (extreme flexibility), Cushioned Joints (less pain, less inflammation, less impact to bones), Doubled Joints (also called Double-Jointedness, Extreme-Flex, Hypermobility or Hyperlaxity)

-Nerves: Hyperelastic Nervous System (nerves harder to sever; they recover quicker from pain and stunning blows), Doubled Nerves (dexterity, reflexes and cognition improved, and sensitivity heightened), No Nerves (neural processes are regulated by chemicals, or psychic/psionic power, and immunity to pain and paralysis), Hyperelectric Nerves (neuroprocesses give off extra electricity beside that needed to execute body functions)

-Skin/Endocrine: Strange Skin Color (specify color), Strange Skin Pattern (specify pattern), Nonporous Skin, Transparent/Translucent Skin (see internal organs, horror/disgust factor), Flammable Sweat, Acid Sweat, Metallic Sweat, Metal Nails, Fur (shaggy, slick, etc.; regulate body temperature; may be long/thick to store/entrap things), Stiff Skin-Hairs (detect vibration, motion, shifts in wind), Diamond Hair, No Body Hair

• Abnormally Large/Small Body Parts (brain, feet, arm, hands, tongue, etc.) usually are the size they are for good reason. The user may have Extra-Large Hands for enhanced grip (and added force behind hits), or Extra-Large Feet for enhanced jumping (and added force behind kicking and stomping). The user may even have Extra-Long Arms, Extra-Long Legs, an Extra-Long Neck, an Extra-Large Brain, Extra-Large Eyes, or the like. In some cases, some body part may be smaller than normal because they are of no use to the user.

• Extra Limbs or Extra Body Parts bestow multiplied faculty. Extra Arms help strength, Extra Legs help jumping capacity and sturdiness, Extra Brains help intelligence and memory, Extra Hearts helps increase blood circulation, etc. A Tail is useful for numerous things; it may be used to maintain balance, grasp or toss foes, or it may have an ending that allows a certain faculty (like a drill for digging, a long, flat for swatting, stiff for hitting with phenomenal force, arrow-like, etc.); Wings assist in aided Flight (they may be avian, insectoid, batlike, like a pterodactyl or otherwise designed depending on the uses of the superhuman; may be useless)

• Natural Armor, also called Body Armor is a superhuman feature defensive in nature. This may entail scales (called Scaly Skin), spikes/spines/quills (called Prickly/Spiky Skin), rough skin (called Abrasive Skin), a cutting projection (called Incisive/Cutting Skin) or even skin that can reflect/magnify/store/discharge light (called Prismatic Skin, Reflective/Refractive Skin or Mirror Appearance). It may entail the presence of a whole exoskeleton, innate (an Organic Exoskeleton) or produced as needed (an Empathic Exoskeleton), a shell into which the user can retract (called Withdraw) or even Impenetrable Skin. Sometimes body armor can appear or retract at will, and some features (such as spikes, scales, etc.) can even be flung like projectiles.

• Natural Weapons, also called Body Weapons are superhuman features which are offensive in nature. This ability may entail the presence of claws which are so sharp that they are capable of cutting through tough materials (called Assassin Claw or Claws) or Pincers capable of grabbing/chopping subjects. However, this may entail the presence of fangs (sometimes along with the claws), which are sharp like those of a wild animal; they grow back quickly if knocked out (called Assassin Fang or just Fangs). This may even entail the presence of Horns/Antlers, used to jab, stab or knock around foes (called Gore), a Stinger used to stab foes (called Impale), a Beak/Bill to strike foes (called Peck) or the like. Some Natural Weapons are retractable.

• Phantom Anatomy, also called Phantom Body Parts implies the presence of body parts that are somehow or entirely imperceptible. This may entail a head that is intangible (and perhaps invisible) and thus incapable of sustaining physical harm (called a Phantom Head), innards which are intangible and thus incapable of taking lethal damage (called Phantom Innards or Phantom Insides), arms and legs which are invisible, giving the user the appearance of having the ability Psychokinesis (called Phantom Limbs) or the like. Having phantom body parts implies that the part is immune to physical harm and psionic attack (and bodily domination or alteration).

• Prehensile Appendages or Prehensility implies the presence of a powerful —maybe even hyperelastic— limb or appendage (such as a Prehensile Tail, a Prehensile Tongue, Prehensile Feet, Prehensile Tentacles, even Prehensile Hair, Prehensile Skin, or the like) that can strike, grab and manipulate subjects. Sometimes, the user’s appendage(s) could even support the body’s weight. In more gruesome variations, prehensile appendages like hair, skin, a tail or tentacles (not feet or hands) could be detached from the body and still operate under the user’s control, and with little or no harm to the user.

• Reinforcement is the presence of an outer protective covering over an extremity, organ or body system, allowing this system alone Superhuman Endurance. One with this ability may have been genetically altered to have a Metal-Reinforced Skeleton, may naturally have Gel-Reinforced Nerves or the like, or their body may naturally possess extra bone, an extra fluid or another (usually) naturally generated substance which adds extra fortification to the skeletal, muscular or another body system. This ability cannot be suppressed.

• Superhuman Organs are organs which don’t occur naturally in humans (they may occur normally in animals, insects or alien species; or they may be distinct to the user); they are useful only for superhuman abilities. This may include Wings, the internal mechanism found in birds to allow Magnetoception, the organ eels possess that allows them to generate electricity, Whiskers or Antennae (useful for detecting movements, maintaining balance and as organs of touch), etc. These are only seen as distinct superhuman features if unaccompanied by organs of the same sort (if one had a tail, fur and whiskers, he has a Feline Physiology, not just a Tail, Fur and Whiskers)

Whatever the case may be within the user, anatomy and adaptations defy the logic of modern medicine. The superhuman may have Extra Teeth (extra rows of teeth for enhanced biting capacity), Hyperelastic Jaws, Homogenous Body Mass (an aid in Malleability, Shapeshifting and Rapid Regeneration), a Gaping Mouth (a feature colloquially called Swallow), No Mouth, a Light-Based Nervous System (which carries neurological messages through pathways of light instead of tangible nerves) or Pointed Ears, among other features. Numerous (possibly infinite) other variations/faculties are possible to encounter.

Note: One going into detail about a type of Xenophysiology can use any of the above-given features (ex: slit yellow eyes, a Tail, Claws, Fur and Whiskers for a Feline Physiology, and the like) to do so.

Note: Doubled Joints and Flexibility are the same ability; if the user has the presence of pliable, seemingly-doubled (or actually doubled) joints, either name can be used to describe the capability.

Note: Phantom Anatomy and Ghostly Form are NOT the same; Ghostly Form implies that the user’s body is somehow imperceptible, but because they are composed of ectoplasm; Phantom Anatomy implies that the body is phased, not composed of ectoplasm; not to mention, Phantom body parts will also allow one to perceive things which are “correspondently imperceptible” (for example, phantom eyes would allow one to see the invisible, phantom hands would let one touch the intangible, etc.), unlike a Ghostly Form

[edit] Variations:

Superhuman Metabolism

• Superhuman Metabolism, also called Super-Metabolism or Hyper Metabolism is the presence of superhuman metabolic capacity within a superhuman. One with this ability can process junk food as though it was incredibly good for the body, and their bodies expunge any potentially harmful substances from the body with extreme efficiency and speed. The user can also recover from fatigue much quicker than normal, and can metabolize poisons and sicknesses through the body very quickly, allowing them to be sick for much shorter periods of time than normal.

Superhuman Respiration

• Superhuman Respiration, also called Superhuman Breathing or Superbreathing/Super-Respiration is the presence of exceptional breathing capacity (more efficient breathing, hold breath longer). Faculties include the ability to inhale with extreme power (called Vortex Inhalation) and the ability to exhale with great force (called Gale Exhalation). Vortex Inhalation is useful to dispose of poisonous gas clouds by inhaling them (this ability also allows high resistance to gaseous poisons and longer breath-holding time), etc. Gale Exhalation is useful to dispose of incoming foes, projectiles, poison gas clouds, etc, by literally blowing them away with phenomenal respiratory force.

Xenophysiology

• Xenophysiology, also called Strange Physiology, Anomalous Physiology or Physical Anomaly is the presence of strange features within a superhuman’s anatomy. One with this ability does not simply have a superhuman anatomy (superhuman systemic capacity, superhuman systemic function); their body is actually likened onto an amalgam between humanity and another type of living organism. These include any of the following:

• Zoophysiology, also called Animal Physiology or Animal Anatomy is the presence of animal features within a superhuman (they don’t necessarily act animal). This may include an Avian/Bird Physiology (feathers/wings, talons, a gizzard), a Reptilian Physiology (scales, forked tongue, claws, slit eyes), an Amphibian Physiology (mucous skin, cold-blooded, water affinity, slit eyes, body similar to frog), an Ichthyic/Fish Physiology (scales, water affinity, water-breathing ability, gills/fins/fish tail), an Insect Physiology (chitinous exoskeleton, segmented limbs, extra eyes/legs, secretions, no heart) or a Mammal Physiology (fur, fangs/claws, perhaps paws, supersenses) or the like

• Agrophysiology, also called Plant Physiology or Botanical Anatomy is the presence of plant features within a superhuman (may produce seeds and/or have green skin; prone to abilities Photosynthesis and Rapid Regeneration; may be plant-looking). This may include an Arboreal/Tree/Wood Physiology (woody, pain-resistant skin, leaves/branches grow from body, sap for blood), a Flowery Physiology (sometimes-protruding flowers, ability to secrete toxins, Aromatic Allure, ability to generate thorns) or Fruit/Vegetable Physiology (strange skin color; ability to grow fruit/vegetables from the body which produce an effect or various effects, or that can be eaten as food)

• Xenotophysiology, also called Alien Physiology or Alien Anatomy is the presence of alien features within a superhuman (strange skin/eye color, skin markings/features or size/figure; prone to Superhuman Intelligence, Adaptation to strange environments; may look alien). This may include a Mercurian or Venusian Physiology (perhaps yellow/orange skin, adapted respiration and high-temperature tolerance), a Martian Physiology (sometimes-red skin, adapted respiration and low-temperature, low-water tolerance) a Plutonian Physiology (sight adapted for low-visibility and body adapted to very low temperatures; perhaps purple/blue/green skin) or that of another alien species

This ability may be accompanied by Adaptation to a certain environment (like warning coloration or camouflage for Zoophysiology, and the like), and possibly the ability to mimic the form/species their body imitates; those with Zoophysiology can usually be affected by Animal Communication, while Agrokinesis usually affects those with Agrophysiology, and those with Xenotophysiology may be able to psychically communicate with others of his species/the species he looks similar to, or the like. The user looks and/or acts human except for these few physiological differences. The user can only have one of these designated superhuman physiologies.

Note: A superhuman with the ability Avian Physiology may also possess the capability to pull his feathers closer to his body before or as he takes flight (this is in order to help increase his flying speed)

Note: A superhuman with the ability Reptilian Physiology may also have the ability to flip his scales in the opposite direction so they lay down facing others (so attacks from the user also cut the foe)

Note: Xenophysiology and Therianthropy are NOT the same: Xenophysiology means the user’s body is always a cross between humanity and another species, while Therianthropy allows transformation into such (and transformation back); also, the user maintains a human nature, unlike Therianthropy (and Therianthropy doesn’t include aliens/plants)

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