Navel

For other uses, see Navel (disambiguation).

"Belly button" redirects here. For other uses, see Belly button (disambiguation).

Navel
Human "innie" navel
Human "outie" navel

The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus, colloquially known as the belly button) is a scar on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel, and it is quite conspicuous in humans. Other animals' navels tend to be smoother and flatter, often nothing more than a thin line, and are often obscured by fur as well.

Human anatomy

See also: umbilical vein and umbilical artery

The navel is at the golden ratio at 62 percent of body height

The umbilicus is a prominent mark on the abdomen, with its position being relatively consistent amongst 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, with a normal variation among people between the L3 and L5 vertebrae.

The umbilicus is also used to visually separate the abdomen into quadrants. The navel comes in the center of the circle enclosing the spread-eagle figure in Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, his famous drawing on human proportions. This illustrates the principle that in the shift between the spread-eagle pose and the straight pose, the apparent center of the figure seems to move, but in reality, the navel of the figure remains motionless. As well as the umbilicus forming a visible depression on the skin of the abdomen, the underlying abdominal muscle layers also present a concavity; thinness at this point contributes to a relative structural weakness, making it susceptible to hernia.^{[citation needed]} During pregnancy, the uterus presses the navel of the pregnant woman outward, however it usually retracts after birth.

Aki Sinkkonen at the University of Helsinki in Finland thinks that the navel may be an indicator of mating potential in fertile women. In his article in the The FASEB Journal, he proposes that the umbilicus, together with the surrounding skin area, is an honest signal of individual vigor. He suggests that the symmetry, shape, and position of umbilicus can be used to estimate the reproductive potential of fertile females, including risks of certain genetically and maternally inherited fetal anomalies.

Innies and outies

Alfred Hitchcock claimed to have had no navel.

In humans, the navel scar can appear as a depression (often referred to colloquially as an innie) or as a protrusion (outie). About 90 percent of humans have innies. The occurrence of an outie navel is caused by the extra skin left from the umbilical cord or from umbilical hernias, although a child with an umbilical hernia will not necessarily develop an outie. Although frequently separated into these two categories, navels actually vary quite widely among people in terms of size, shape, depth/length, and overall appearance. As navels are scars, and not defined by genetics, they can serve as a way of distinguishing between identical twins in the absence of other identifiable marks.

Loss of the navel

Some do not have a navel as a result of the surgery needed to correct abdominal problems at birth like an umbilical hernia or gastroschisis, a condition where the stomach and intestines poke through a hole in the abdominal wall. Only a smooth indentation is found in the place of the navel. And while it is standard practice to clamp, cut, then seal a newborn's umbilical cord to prevent infection, in lotus births - or umbilical non-severance births - the cord and placenta are left to drop off naturally. Adults may lose their navels during stomach surgeries or skin grafts while some adults even opt to have their navels surgically enhanced via umbilicoplasty. Famous examples are Alfred Hitchcock who had so many abdominal operations over the years that his navel disappeared under all the stitches and Czech model Karolina Kurkova who lost her navel due to a surgery during her childhood.

Erogenous zone

The navel is one of the many erogenous zones that has heightened sensitivity. The navel and the region below when touched by the finger or the tip of the tongue result in the production of erotic sensations. This is because the navel and the genitals have a common tissue origin, and in some people this connection still exists so that stimulation of the navel will elicit a distinct tickle in the genitals. In the Song of Solomon, a book in the Hebrew Bible, there are allusions to exotic things in nature, with frequent interweaving of nature with erotic imagery. In Solomon's lavish praise of his love – the country girl, Sulaimi – the navel is mentioned as follows: "thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor" (7:2).

Dirt accumulation inside the navel

Bacteria

A team of scientists have discovered there are 1,400 strains of bacteria lurking in human belly buttons.North Carolina State University's Belly Button Biodiversity study even found 662 unrecognised strains which could be unique new species.

Alternative medicine

Manipura chakra that represents the navel

Indian medicine

In Indian traditional medicine, Cyperus rotundus tuber is made into a paste and applied around the navel to relieve pain caused by roundworms. Pomegranate plant juice & paste is used for snake bite, the juice is dropped into nostrils, ears & the navel. Applying a little bit of ghee on cotton and keeping it on the navel overnight is considered a remedy for dry lips.

According to Ayurveda, the navel is an important site in the human body. Nearly 72,000 subtle nerves or nadis converge in this area. By the principles of Ayurveda and yoga, the human body is made up of six Chakras of which the Manipura chakra is located at the spine directly behind either the navel or the solar plexus, depending on the system, while its kshetram or superficial activation point is located directly on the navel and represents the element Fire.Vayu, which is one of the three Doshas specified in Ayurveda, is divided into five sub categories. Of these, Samana Vayu (situated in the navel region) is believed to aid in digestion and to give physical strength to the body.

Navel displacement

By Ayurvedic principles, navel displacement is the condition when the navel center shifts. Determining whether the navel is displaced is done by the following procedure,

1. The person should lie on the back with legs straightened.
2. Another person using a string measures the distance between the navel center to the left toe of the person lying down.
3. Similarly the distance between the navel center to the right toe is measured.
4. If both distances are not equal,then the navel is said to be displaced.

This might usually create digestive disorders. Proper practice of yoga is considered to be a remedy to realigning the navel.

Sri Lankan medicine

In Sri Lanka traditional medicine, a composition of herbs, powdered pepper & water is applied to the navel in the form of a paste as a remedy for stomach aches. Similarly, during difficulties in delivery, a betel leaf is placed on the woman's navel which is believed to be under a spell.

Russian Medicine

Laying wormwood on the female navel,Spreading a paste of reindeer lichen on the navel were considered by Russian women to make the delivery fast and painless.

Navel exposure in world cultures

Western culture

Barbara Eden in a publicity photo of 1960's TV show I Dream of Jeannie.

A woman exposing her navel in a 1950's bikini.

Censorship

Displaying a bare navel has been a taboo at times in Western cultures. The famous Hays code banned the exposure of the navel. During the 1950s, actress Joan Collins was prohibited from displaying her bare navel for the film Land of the Pharaohs by the censors. She was made to wear a navel jewel, a ruby, to meet the censors' guidelines. This technique of gluing jewels on the navel to cover it and baring the midriff began to be used in many other films featuring belly dance sequences. Similarly, Marilyn Monroe for a scene from Some Like It Hot wore a dress that revealed skin everywhere but had a tiny piece of fabric to hide her navel. During the 1960s, actress Barbara Eden was not allowed to show her navel on the US TV show I Dream of Jeannie by the Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters. Similarly actress Mariette Hartley was not allowed to show her belly button in Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek (1966) due to the censors. But later Gene got even when he had Mariette expose not one but two belly buttons in the sci-fi film Genesis II (1973). During 1970s,The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour of CBS featured TV personality Cher exposing her navel which was considered a first in television history. But the network censors feared her navel exposure would become a cause célèbre at CBS.

Fashion

A woman wearing a cropped top and low-rise pants which exposes the midriff and navel

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in their trademark outfits that expose the navel.

However, Fashion exploits the navel through low-rise clothing that leaves the midriff or lower abdomen bare. These navel displays commenced with the introduction of the bikini in the 1940s, and have become increasingly popular through sporting styles comprising modified sports bras without additional outer garments, sports bikinis, and cheerleading style fashions developing largely from the styles originating with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in the early 1970s. The modern trend of exposing the navel has usually been confined to women, apart from a 1980s fashion male belly-button shirt fad, although males have long exposed their navels when going shirtless, such as when swimming.

This low-rise fashion started in the early 1990s when the British magazine The Face in its March 1993 issue cover featured Kate Moss in low-rise jeans. Models like Gisele have always flashed their midriffs. The display of the navel in women's fashion has partly grown out of the sportswear and swimwear styles that became popular during the twentieth century, themselves linked to successes of the feminist movement and developments in clothing technology. The importance of the navel is very much emphasized that for Czech model Karolina Kurkova who does not have a navel, the magazine and catalogue art directors routinely airbrush one in for her during post-production. They keep a collection of belly button shots in different positions, and Photoshop them on to her whenever she’s doing a bikini picture. Similarly, Kelly Ripa also appeared in magazine covers of Shape with morphed navels.

Due to the current wide acceptance of navel display in Western societies, navel piercing and navel tattoos have become more common among young women. The trend of piercing or tattooing the navel became popular in the 1990s . Actress Drew Barrymore has a butterfly tattoo beneath her navel. The growing popularity of belly dancing, where navel exposure is a necessity, has also added to the navel exposure trend. Among belly dancing instructors, the innie navel is preferred over the outie. During the late 1980s, Disney's heroines moved to a sexier trend. In the 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid, Ariel who is the lead protagonist flashed her navel wearing only fins & seashells. This is considered to be a first in Disney's history.

On the contrary, advice columnist Ann Landers once commented,"Navels are neither sexy nor obscene. I do not believe any female of good taste would wear an outfit where her navel shows. This does not include women in costumes or those on beaches in bikinis. The same goes for males. An adult male who wears hip-huggers so low rates zero minus 10 on the scale of taste - it's my opinion but it's one I feel strongly about".

20th Century music

Britney Spears in navel exposing attire.

Besides fashion, 20th century music culture is another reason for popularity of navel exposure. Many famous pop stars such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez etc., have flaunted their navels during their performances. During the early 1990s, Canadian country singer Shania Twain appeared in low jeans baring her midriff and navel in her music videos and performances. It became the most widely discussed body part in country music, which became her own unique trademark. Jennifer Lopez is believed to have started the trend of exposing the navel on stage and red carpets. In 2001, the editors of Britannica commissioned an article on Britney Spears that deconstructs her bare midriff. The article describes Miss Spears's navel as "a heated boundary between baby and babe". Spin magazine chose Madonna's navel as its "most incredible" rock star body part for a September 2005 feature. On the contrary, American columnist Kathleen Parker in an article about Katharine Hepburn once commented, "Young movie-going girls today don't have access to many in the mold of Katherine Hepburn. Instead by mall observations most are Britney wannabes -- hip-hugged, tattooed, pierced and out there. The female navel has become the refrigerator man's continental divide. I hate to break it to you,oh future daughters-in-law, but everybody's got a belly button. Your inney- or outey-ness is not the stuff either of revelation or revolution."

Indian culture

Ancient times

Sculpture of an Ancient Indian dancer in navel exposing attire

While the West was relatively resistant to midriff-baring clothing until the 1980s, it has long been a fashion with Indian women. These women, especially those from Southern India, have traditionally worn saris that bare the midriff. Women from Rajasthan leave the midriff exposed while wearing Ghagra Cholis. However, these women often cover their heads with a Dupatta, and may even cover their faces in front of strangers with a Ghoonghat. This lends credence to the belief that navel-baring in India has a symbolic, almost mystical, association with birth and life, and that the display is meant to emphasize the centrality of nature in the nurture role. One of the reasons can be that in ancient Indian tradition,the navel of the God Vishnu the Protector is considered to be the center of the universe and the source of life. From his navel a new world of the future emerges. This has been depicted in many ancient Indian sculptures as a lotus emerging from the navel on which God Brahma the Creator is seated. Due to this the midriff & navel is set to be left bare in a sari.

In ancient India, although women wore saris that bared the midriff, the Dharmasastra writers stated that women should be dressed such that the navel would never become visible. By which for sometime the navel exposure became a taboo and the navel was concealed. The trend of exposing the navel was started by women who were dancers, acrobats, or entertainers, and who developed a technique of wearing the sari like a pair of trousers well below the navel to assist in the free movement of the legs. This trend slowly spread to become common among unmarried young women. Women in this type of attire are very common in many ancient Indian sculptures, and paintings. Before sculpting,the sculptors actually created an image and indicated the six structural centers as defined by Yoga principles,of which navel is also one. Technically, a typical women representation in ancient Indian art include an hourglass figure with large waist, breasts, buttocks and a deep navel. By the Indian Physiognomy of a women's body,if the navel of a woman is deep, then she is popular and is loved by her husband. Broad, fleshy and not very deep navel indicates that such a woman is quite lucky. A woman with deep navel with a whirl to the right side is considered auspicious and is expected to lead a queen like comfortable life. Famous Indian painter M. F. Husain once commented,"The belly button has always been in.It has been an intrinsic part of the Indian woman. It has been part of Indian sculptures that go back so many centuries. That is why so many years ago, even in the 50s, all my works had women show their belly buttons.".

Recent times

TV actress Narayani Shastri in a navel exposing Sari.

With their migration to different countries, many Indian women began to wear the normal sari below the waistline exposing the navel, which is known as a low-rise sari or low hip sari. Also, due to liberalization and changing global markets, saris are re-emerging as an erotic wrap, which can expose as much as it conceals. As a result, saris began to be designed in many innovative ways and using different materials. Transparent and semi-transparent saris made of sheer fabrics like chiffon are one such example. Gradually navel exposure gained a permanent role in modern Indian fashion.According to Fashion designer Swapnil Shinde,the Indian fashion scene is just about exploring the show-off navel for the ramp. According to model Candice Pinto,the navel is the sexiest part of the human body but showing off the navel should be a matter of personal choice. These modern saris may be draped in different ways, such as a petticoat being tied about 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in) below the navel, just above the pubic area, and a small blouse ending just below the breasts with a thin pallu exposing some part of the blouse and almost the entire midriff.

This style was popularised by Bollywood celebrities and other popular regional film industries, such as Tamil cinema and Telugu cinema. Some even wear navel jewels or navel piercings to emphasize and make the navel attractive. In 2009, actress Priyanka Chopra appeared in a "Mumtaz Sari" and showed off her navel jewellery when she attended the premiere of her film What's Your Raashee at the Toronto International Film Festival. Very recently in August 2011, South Indian actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu made a flutter at the audio launch of Telugu film Dookudu exposing her midriff with a navel piercing in a sari. These styles are mainly worn by rich, educated, upper class women who regard navel exposure as a fashion. Sometimes this style is modified, with the navel being covered by the pallu when wearing a low-rise non-transparent sari. In some corporations in India, saris are required to be worn in an elegant manner avoiding navel exposure.

Indian Cinema

Female dancers of Bollywood have always exposed their navels and cameras have always focused on their navels. For example,in the 1968 Bollywood film Brahmachari, sctress Mumtaz was seen in a Sharara sari flaunting her navel for a song and dance number "Aaj kal tere mere".Sharara is a long flowing pant like a divided skirt at bottom with a long blouse.The unique feature of the Sharara is the skirt which has less flow than lehenga. It is like a loose pant fitted till the knee, with a big flare from the knee onwards.It later became so popular that till date this type of saris is known to be Mumtaz Saris. The film Khalnayak(1993) was famous for the song Choli ke Peeche featuring Madhuri Dixit in navel exposing attire. Actress Aishwarya Rai showcased her navel in a brocade choli and dipped ghagra for the hit song "Kajra Re" in the film Bunty aur Babli (2005). Actress Deepika Padukone had once commented," in showing off cleavage, chances are you might end up looking indecent. But that isn't the case with the navel. It's sexy in a very natural way." Maria Rose, a poet from Kerala in his poem "Obsessed with navels" has wrote,"Don’t blame or tease us;We sex starved lot;Let us free our repressions;By peeping at the navels and cleavages;And by making love with the air;In cinematic dances.". On the contrary,the Censor Board of India for Indian cinema brought some limitations with respect to portrayal of vulgarity which included restrictions on visuals like zoom shots of the navel,vulgar kissing of the navel and the erotic squeezing of the navel and waist.It had been implemented during the 1990s.

Japanese culture

Dogū figurine of the late Jomon period with the navel indicated with a deep indentation.

Early Times

Japan has long had a special regard for the navel. During early Jomon period in northern Japan,three small balls indicating the breasts and navel were pasted onto flay clay objects intending to be abbreviations for the female body.The navel was exaggerated in size which was given significance by the thought that navel acts as a "symbol of center where life begins".On many middle Jomon figurines too,the significance of the navel was emphasized with an indentation or hole.Sometimes,the importance of the navel was further enchanced by connecting with a line from the navel towards the chest. Japanese poems of the earlier times featured many references to the female navel.In some,the word navel actually refers to an indentation or hole instead of the belly button. The shape of the umbilicus of a newborn baby would be discussed at length.If a baby's navel is to point downward, the parents would brace themselves for a weakling child who would bring them woe.The thunder god Raijin, with his terrifying drums, his great horns and long tusks, was said to have an insatiable appetite for young navels, and mothers had constantly to nag their youngsters to keep themselves well covered up. Therefore due to the mythology,navel exposure was not encouraged in the earlier times.The traditional clothing of Japanese women has a wide cloth belt around the midriff to protect the belly and keep it warm.The Japanese believe that the belly to be a source of person's warmth and a perfect navel is an innie.

Japanese model in navel exposing attire.

Transitional Period

Japanese spiritualist Hogen Fukunaga once wrote,"The navel is the core of everything about the person." So it logically follows that the unlucky person who ends up with an abnormal version of this most central of body parts is doomed to a life of dubious distinction." By 1951, at the age of 55, retired secretary named Koji Murata had built up a whole philosophy around the navel's influence on health. He started the Hesoten (literally, Navel Heaven) Society, to proclaim that the heaven-pointed navel received blessings therefrom.He claimed that the navel is a medal of culture with which every person is born.One should value it.As the years passed, people began taking Murata's advice by exercising their navels twice a day.His crusade did fetch some results.Many people including executives who found themselves less tense while employees felt more eager to work.Today 160 firms and organizations are members of the Navel Heaven movement. The importance for the navel in Japan has eventually increased.One of Japan's top beauticians, Mrs. Aiko Yamano introduced the idea of mixing up perfumed olive oil with a bit of lanolin and persuaded women to pour a few drops into their navels before retiring. The oil was naved "BB" for Brigitte Bardot. Many women over 30 who tried it,developed clear, smooth skins.Within four days the first 10,000 bottles were sold out.

Japanese women performing a traditional Japanese dance Yosakoi in navel-exposing attire in the Yosakoi Matsuri 2006 at Kōchi.

Belly Button Festival

Currently,navel exposure has become a trend,although annual belly button festivals (Heso Matsuri) are held in Japan regularly for the past three decades.The rather curious tradition of the Hokkaido Bellybutton Dance (Heso Odori) began about thirty-five years ago.It was decided that a town festival was needed, in order to unify and energize Furano's people, who are spread over a large area. Inspired by Furano's location in the very middle of Hokkaido, the festival organizers came up with the idea of a dance featuring the bellybutton.This dance was not exactly an immediate hit. In the first official Heso Matsuri, only 11 people joined the dance. However, over the years, Heso Matsuri has become one of the most famous summer festivals in Hokkaido, drawing people from around Japan and the world. Dancers make their “heso” (bellybutton) into a face, using paint, special costumes, and props. There are many innovative variations to the simple, energetic Heso Odori (Bellybutton Dance). Competition is intense as dancers compete for prizes and glory in various categories.

A similar type festival is held at Shibukawa, north of Tokyo.The same idea was formed based on the location of Shibukawa which is also referred to as the "Belly button of Japan".The festival is based on a traditional Japanese form of entertainment where revelers paint a face on their torsos and stomachs and pretend it is a head.A kimono is then wrapped around the waist and the person's real head is hidden by a large cloth hat. The belly button is traditionally painted into a mouth.These days, modern motifs and Japanese anime designs have crept in to the festival, which city officials said is all about having fun.

Indonesian culture

Yudhoyono's Speech

In 2004,the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had spoken out against exposed navels, urging women in the world’s largest Muslim-populated country to cover up.He said,"Indonesian women, who are known for their courtesy, should refrain from exposing their midriffs or belly buttons, which now seems to be taken for granted.There are many ways to express beauty, as part of aesthetics, and to express freedom but not by showing things that lead to pornography.".He further added that state could not dictate how people should dress but citizens were expected to respect the country’s moral values and courtesy.A week later,a cabinet minister quoted Mr.Yudhoyono as saying that he felt “disturbed and uneasy” to see television shows in which women exposed their navels.

Indonesian pop singer Agnes Monica in navel exposing attire.

Anti-Pornography Law

In 2006,Agus Suwage,an Indonesian artist installed his Pinkswing Park exhibit at Jakarta's international biennale and was surrounded by massive panels with multiple pictures of a near-naked man and woman frolicking in a utopian park - a world away from thoughts of religious furore, public condemnation and possible imprisonment.Within days of November's exhibition launch, Islamic fundamentalists had shoved Suwage to the forefront of their struggle to redefine Indonesia by descending on the biennale, forcing its closure and demanding prosecutions. At first police claimed his work blasphemed the story of Adam and Eve, then few weeks later they told Suwage he faced five years in jail for producing pornography.By which,the Indonesian parliament decided to introduce a sweeping anti-pornography law.The law imposes a rigid social template; couples who kiss in public will face up to five years' jail, as would anyone flaunting a "sensual body part" - including their navel - and tight clothing will be outlawed. Due to this new anti-pornography law,topless bathing & surfing on the beachs of Bali which are a common practice by tourists will also be prohibited.Not only tourists but many older tribal women still walk topless who would also be affected by the law. Eventually, the introduction of a bill had been attacked by women's rights campaigners in the country, who fear it is the first step towards the implementation of Islamic Sharia law.

Pop music

Despite these laws, pop singers like Inul Daratista who is known for her hip swaying moves and Agnes Monica who features in sexy attire,still continue exposing their navels but undergo some restrictions during advertising.

Others

Malaysia

Malay models in attire that covers the navel at a Fashion show in Kuala Lumpur in April 2011.

In 2005, Vivienne,a virtual girlfriend created by software maker Artificial Life Inc. of Hong Kong was reprogrammed not to bare her navel or display body piercings in conservative Muslim countries like Malaysia to avoid problems. In 2006, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat gave his blessings to an Islamic form of dance clubs to serve as entertainment outlets at Kota Baru.He commented that however there must be proper attire for women such as clothes that do not reveal the navel.He added that he was not opposed to dancing but that couples should not do it and most importantly, that the women's navel was covered.He further added that Muslim women must be covered from head to toe except for their face and hands while Muslim men must be decently dressed when in public. Under Malaysian government rules for stage performances, a female artist must be covered from her shoulders to her knees.By which in 2007,pop icon Beyonce Knowles was not allowed to perform in navel exposing attire.Razlan Ahmad Razali, chairman of Pineapple Concerts, which organized Beyonce's concert commented,"We've informed Beyoncé's management about this issue of clothes, but it takes some of the fun out of it.Beyoncé won't be able to do the kind of show here that she does elsewhere.She's a fashion icon, and we know that she often wears miniskirts and clothes that expose her navel during her performances. It's a pity to restrict her, because her costumes are all tasteful and glamorous." Following which Beyonce scrapped the show amidst opposition from local groups while she called the cancellation a result of a "scheduling conflict".

Sri Lanka

7th Century Sigiriya frescoes depicting women in navel exposed attire

Sinhalese women performing a traditional Sri Lankan dance in navel-exposing attire.

The royal ladies in the Sigiriya frescoes depict women wearing the cloth gracefully draped as a dhoti, tied in a knot at the front and pulled down exposing the navel. They wear pleated robes from the waist upwards, save for necklace, armlets, wristlets, ear and hair ornaments and displayed their breasts. The ladies in waiting wear waist clothes, a few ornaments and a firm 'breast bandage' or thanapatiya.

In the Sinhalese poetic work Kaviyasekara, a father advises his married daughter as to proper clothing,

Sinhalese: "Pekaniya nodakva Salu e(n)da bolata dakva Nopava tana sakva Sina nomawan dasan dakva." (Sinhala: පෙකිනි නොදක්වා සළු ඇඳ බොලට දක්වා නොපව තන සක්වා සිනා නොමවන් දසන් දක්වා)

English: "Dress your garment above your navel,without exposing the fair bosom, and expose not your teeth in laughing."

Australia

In 2008,Actress Demi Moore commented to the media that her secret to looking sexy even at the age of 45 is medical leeches.She said that she went to Australia for a cleansing. She explained that the leeches were placed in her belly button, and that “They have a little enzyme that when they are biting down in you, it gets released in your blood… and your health is optimized.” In 2009,Australian politician Pauline Hanson had offered to bare her belly button to prove that she is not the subject of lewd photographs of a young woman.Previously she had forcefully denied that raunchy photos splashed across News Ltd papers were not of her.Asked if she would bare her belly button to prove that the claims were false, Ms Hanson said: "I will if I have to, but if you have a clear look at the photos, they are not me."

Korea

In 2010, South Korean girl group Rainbow's belly button dance had been warned by broadcasts because of the obscene expressions.Rainbow while their promoting new title song 'A',pulled up their shirts like as if they will take it off and show their belly button.Followed by this, Rainbow's Agency officials commented,"Recently the choreography has been banned from broadcasts and we cannot see them anymore.We are planning to change the choreography which has problems".The broadcast which banned Rainbow's choreography has been talking about girl groups' clothes and about expressions.The SBS TV show Inkigayo had told girl groups to restrain showing their skin too much and about their outfits.

See also

• Abdominal hair
• Granuloma
• Navel fetishism
• Navel lint
• Omphalomancy
• Omphalos
• Omphaloskepsis
• Umbilical hernia
• Umbilicoplasty

External links

• Navelage
• Novel notion - Some navel intelligence - The Vindicator
• Navel Gazer
• Belly Button Bonanza
• Bollywood Navel Mela