• Question: Why is hitting your humerus so painful?

    Asked by jessllewellyn to David, Jonathan, Pete, Sam on 4 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Pete Etchells

      Pete Etchells answered on 4 Jul 2012:

      Great question, Jess! When you hit your funny bone, you’re actually hitting a nerve in your elbow, called the ‘ulnar nerve’. It’s the largest nerve in the body that isn’t protected by bone or muscle, which is why it’s so common to hit it. When you hit it, it gets trapped between your skin and the bone in your elbow, and sends a pain signal to your brain.

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