It’s a common experience: you bump your elbow just right, and suddenly, a jolt of pain, tingling, and numbness shoots down your arm. This sensitive spot is often called the “funny bone,” but the peculiar thing is, it’s not a bone at all! So, why is it called the funny bone if it’s not actually funny and not even a bone?
The “funny bone” is actually the ulnar nerve, one of the main nerves in your arm. This nerve travels from your neck down to your hand, and for much of its journey, it’s protected by bones, muscles, and ligaments. However, as the ulnar nerve passes behind the elbow, it runs through a small groove in the humerus bone (the bone in your upper arm). At this point, the nerve is quite close to the surface, with only skin and a thin layer of fat to cushion it. This lack of protection makes the ulnar nerve vulnerable to direct impact.
When you strike your “funny bone,” you’re actually hitting or compressing the ulnar nerve against the humerus. This sudden pressure on the nerve causes it to send unusual signals, resulting in that familiar sensation of pain, tingling, and numbness that can extend down into your hand and fingers.
As for the name “funny bone,” there are a couple of interesting theories. One popular idea is that it’s a play on words. The bone in your upper arm, which the ulnar nerve runs alongside, is called the humerus. “Humerus” sounds quite similar to “humorous,” which means funny. So, “funny bone” might have originated as a pun, linking the bone’s name to the amusing, albeit not entirely pleasant, sensation you experience when you bump the nerve.
Another theory suggests the name comes directly from the peculiar sensation itself. The tingling and numbing feeling can be described as odd or “funny” in the older sense of the word, meaning strange or peculiar. Therefore, “funny bone” could simply be a descriptive term for the strange and unusual feeling caused by striking the ulnar nerve at your elbow.
Regardless of its precise origin, the term “funny bone” has stuck, providing a somewhat humorous name for a decidedly unfunny experience. It’s a reminder that sometimes, common names are based on wordplay, curious sensations, or simply a bit of historical quirkiness, rather than strict anatomical accuracy.
