Crying


 * 1) Crying or weeping (physic tears): The third category, generally referred to as crying or weeping, is increased lacrimation due to strong emotional stress, depression or physical pain. This practice is not restricted to negative emotions; many people have been known to cry when extremely happy or when they are laughing. In humans, emotional tears can be accompanied by reddening of the face and sobbing &mdash; cough-like, convulsive breathing, sometimes involving spasms of the whole upper body. Tears brought about by emotions have a different chemical make up than those for lubrication. The limbic system is involved in production of basic emotional drives, such as anger, fear, etc.  The limbic system also has a degree of control over the autonomic system.  This is more specifically the hypothalamus.  It is the parasympathetic system that controls the lacrimal glands.  Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter specific to both the nicotinic and muscarinic receptors.  It is when the receptors are activated that the lacrimal gland is stimulated to produce tears.

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