• Question: Why does a paper cut hurt?

    Asked by anon-178910 to Samuel, Pankaj, Lucy, Kate, Jordan, Emma on 15 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Kate Kuyt

      Kate Kuyt answered on 15 Jun 2018:

      I am not 100% sure on this but i think it is because you cut through a large area but at the top of your skin where all the nerves are, its your nerves that tell your brain something hurts!

      Also you tend to get paper cuts on your fingers or other areas you use a lot, so they are constantly being hit and reminded it hurts.

    • Photo: Pankaj Garg

      Pankaj Garg answered on 15 Jun 2018:

      We have billions of sensor which take pain signals to our brain. When you have a paper cut – you break your skin and that activates those nerve endings

    • Photo: Samuel Vennin

      Samuel Vennin answered on 15 Jun 2018:

      You are cutting one of the sensors on your skin, which triggers the pain sensation in your brain. It is a protective mechanism from your brain to signal that you are in potential danger and that you have to be careful. Imagine if you start losing blood without noticing it!

    • Photo: Jordan Moir

      Jordan Moir answered on 15 Jun 2018:

      I am not 100% sure but I think the other guys have covered this for you 🙂 Good question and it does hurt so much, I am so bad for getting them.

    • Photo: Lucy Green

      Lucy Green answered on 15 Jun 2018:

      This is a brilliant short video…. https://youtu.be/p2FLuU5obhM
      I think anyway!

    • Photo: Emma Wellham

      Emma Wellham answered on 19 Jun 2018:

      Because the paper cuts the skin, which is next to lots of nerve endings which have pain receptors. Then the pain receptors are activated by the paper cut, they send signals to the brain making you feel pain.

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