Why does a paper cut sting really badly but other cuts don't?!
Question:
Why does a paper cut sting really badly but other cuts don't?
Additional Details
3 weeks ago
Okay, if it does slice thru nerve endings then why do other cuts not do that? I mean i've had paper cuts then i've had normal cuts on they do not feel the same...
Answers:
these small cuts do not cut very deep but they cut into the dermis which contains a very large number of pain/pressure/touch receptors. touch is felt to different intensities from light touch all the way up to pain. a paper cut is concentrated in the dermis where all these receptors are. deeper cuts often sever these receptor fibres. paper cuts don't damage these nerves enough to destroy - just make them hurt like crazy- this is why grazes can hurt so much. the ratio of nerves to actual damage caused is quite high - its actually a measure of how deep the damage goes. (pain that is)