Self-cannibalism

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For the cellular phenomenon, see Autophagy.

Self-cannibalism is the practice of eating oneself, also called autocannibalism^[1], or autosarcophagy^[2]. A similar term which is applied differently is autophagy, which specifically denotes the normal process of self-degredation by cells. Whilst almost an exclusive term for this process, autophagy nonetheless has occasionally made its way into more common usage^[3].

1 Self-cannibalism among humans
2 Self-cannibalism among animals
3 Cultural references
4 See also
5 Notes

[edit] Self-cannibalism among humans

[edit] As a natural occurrence

A certain amount of self-cannibalism occurs unwittingly, as the body consumes dead cells from the tongue and cheeks. Ingesting one's own blood from an unintentional lesion such as a nose-bleed or an ulcer is clearly not intentional harvesting and consequently not considered cannibalistic.

Catabolisis is also sometimes described as "self-cannibalism."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] As a disorder or symptom thereof

One disorder known to cause autocannibalism is Lesch-Nyhan syndrome which features "self-mutilating behaviors, characterized by lip and finger biting." Sixty percent of Lesch-Nyhan sufferers have to have their teeth removed to prevent them from biting off their lips, cheeks, tongues, and other parts. Similar symptoms are exhibited in Fragile X syndrome and Cornelia de Lange syndrome.^{[citation needed]}

Acute pancreatitis can involve the auto-digestion of the pancreas.

Fingernail-biting that develops into fingernail-eating is a form of pica. Other forms of pica include the compulsion of eating one's own hair (also trichophagia and Rapunzel syndrome), which can form a hairball (trichobezoar) in the stomach.

[edit] As a choice

Some people will engage in self-cannibalism as an extreme form of body modification, for example eating their own skin.^[4] Others will drink their own blood, a practice called autovampirism^[5] but sucking blood from wounds, is generally not seen to be cannibalism. Placentophagy may be a form of self-cannibalism.

[edit] As a crime

Allegations of forced self-cannibalism as a form of torture or war crime are not uncommon. It had been alleged that the infamous Erzsébet Báthory forced some of her servants to eat their own flesh.^[6] It has also been alleged that in the 16th Century, colonizers forced natives to eat their own testicles.^[7] Allegations were also made in the years following the 1991 coup in Haiti.^[8] In the 1990s it had been alleged that young people in Sudan were forced to eat their own ears.^[9]

One famous case of self-cannibalism is the Armin Meiwes trial. One of the persons involved, Bernd Jürgen Armando Brandes, had hoped to engage in self-cannibalism before being cannibalized himself, although it is unclear if he actually did so.

[edit] Self-cannibalism among animals

The short-tailed cricket is known to eat its own wings.^[10]

Mice will also eat their own tails when they starve,^{[citation needed]}. Some cases where rabbits chew off and consume their own ears have also been recorded.^[11]

Certain species of sharks have been known to eat their own guts when injured by other sharks or simply by their own blood smell.

[edit] Cultural references

The ancient symbol Ouroboros depicts a serpent biting its own tail.

Lesch-Nyhan disorder is featured in the novel The Cobra Event by Richard Preston.
Stephen King's short story "Survivor Type", about a man trapped on a small island.
Ryan, Alan (1984) "The Bones Wizard", Whispers.
Roger, Frank, "The Implosion of a Gastrocrat: an Experiment in Autophagy".
In the manga One Piece the character Zeff eats his own foot while marooned on an island.
In the novel Hannibal, Hannibal Lecter recalls psychologically manipulating a handicapped patient of his into eating his own face with his dog. In the course of the novel Lecter also feeds part of a man's brain to that man involuntarily.
In issue #5 of the Marvel Comic Livewires, Stem Cell ate most of her own skin so that she could use it as base material for constructing her Pyronano "babies". Afterwards, she considered adopting "Autocannibal" as her name.
In the original book The Queen of the Damned, the twin sisters Maharet and Mekare are punished for refusing to help Akasha. Mekare's tongue is cut out and Maharet's eyes are removed. Both women then ingest the parts.