The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Physiology & Medicine
  4. why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

why do small cuts hurt more than big ones

  • 15 Replies
  • 17530 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline i am bored (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 927
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« on: 19/12/2007 22:09:16 »
why is it that i get a paper cut and it stings but my friend cuts my finger with a sword and it doesn't? it doesn't make sense
« Last Edit: 20/12/2007 01:28:11 by St. Nick »
Logged
if the pen is mightier than the sword then imagine how powerfull the printer is
 



Offline Simulated

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7188
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Simulated..What more do you needa know :P
    • View Profile
    • Facebook
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #1 on: 19/12/2007 22:24:53 »
Ah good question there Nic.
Logged
 

Offline i am bored (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 927
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #2 on: 20/12/2007 01:25:01 »
i know, im missing a chunk of finger(its deep but ive had worse) and when the blade cut me it didnt hurt i just saw blood. but when paper cuts me, it stings!
Logged
if the pen is mightier than the sword then imagine how powerfull the printer is
 

Offline Simulated

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7188
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Simulated..What more do you needa know :P
    • View Profile
    • Facebook
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #3 on: 20/12/2007 01:50:04 »
yeah i feel the same way. Anybody!
Logged
 

Offline Carolyn

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 3761
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #4 on: 20/12/2007 05:20:45 »
Quote from: St. Nick on 20/12/2007 01:25:01
i know, im missing a chunk of finger(its deep but ive had worse) and when the blade cut me it didnt hurt i just saw blood. but when paper cuts me, it stings!


...and you still expect me to buy a samurai sword for Christmas??? [>:(] [:o]
Logged
Carolyn
 



paul.fr

  • Guest
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #5 on: 20/12/2007 05:30:32 »
is it because you are a girlie, us tough men don't cry!  [;)]

seriously, when you got bigger cuts did you cover them? This can pervent the hurt. Also, when you get a big cut or gouge, your body will send lots of blood there and form a clot. This does not happen with paper cuts and so they are exposed to the air which can irritate you.

paper cuts are often not cleaned and any "stuff" from the paper may get cought in the cut and act as an irritant.

also it can be in the mind pain, cut yourself with a knife...or sword! and you expect the pain. cut yourself with something simple like paper and the shock of the cut may cause the pain.
« Last Edit: 20/12/2007 13:24:33 by paul.fr »
Logged
 

Offline Simulated

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7188
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Simulated..What more do you needa know :P
    • View Profile
    • Facebook
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #6 on: 20/12/2007 13:12:56 »
Ah I think your reasoning there Paul! I see!
Logged
 

Offline opus

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 326
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #7 on: 20/12/2007 18:56:30 »
I think the shock of being cut by a sword may be a tad greater than the shock of getting a paper cut though Paulfr
Logged
 

paul.fr

  • Guest
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #8 on: 20/12/2007 21:20:09 »
Quote from: opus on 20/12/2007 18:56:30
I think the shock of being cut by a sword may be a tad greater than the shock of getting a paper cut though Paulfr
but, if you are sword fighting then you expect to get cut and thus it is no big shock. Shuffling papers on the other hand, you would not expect the cut, same with grass.

Also, as i said above. A big cut you will cover and protect. A small cut you may well leave to heal...try blowing accross a small paper cut, hurts like hell. Plaster to cover it, no pain.
Logged
 



Offline Simulated

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7188
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Simulated..What more do you needa know :P
    • View Profile
    • Facebook
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #9 on: 20/12/2007 21:22:44 »
haha, but we know we are messing with the papers so we know that we could be getting cut?
Logged
 

Offline opus

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 326
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #10 on: 20/12/2007 21:54:39 »
The fact that I may get cut by a sword (and suffer ensuing huge shock) is enough to put me off sword-fighting whereas the fear of getting a paper cut (and therefore suffer minimal shock) does not put me off shuffling papers..... or am I totally missing the point?
Logged
 

Offline i am bored (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 927
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #11 on: 20/12/2007 23:57:34 »
well i was not fighting, the guy behind me wasnt paying attention and slung it open from the scabbard. and thanks, but what about smaller cuts other than paper, those still hurt
Logged
if the pen is mightier than the sword then imagine how powerfull the printer is
 

Offline i am bored (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 927
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #12 on: 21/12/2007 02:09:07 »
Quote from: paul.fr on 20/12/2007 05:30:32
when you get a big cut or gouge, your body will send lots of blood there and form a clot.
no wonder blood was flowing out of my finger like a waterfall
Logged
if the pen is mightier than the sword then imagine how powerfull the printer is
 



paul.fr

  • Guest
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #13 on: 21/12/2007 05:22:22 »
OK, let me try again.

when you have a cut or wound larger than a paper cut, you will tend to clean and dress it. This may just be a rinse under the tap followed by the application of a plaster / band-aid. What you have just done, is to clean the area, thus it is (relatively) free from dirt, dust, or other material and it is protected.

when you have a small paper cut, or smaller, it is doubtful that you will go to the trouble with this cut that you have with the one above. So that cut may have paper dust of other foreign matter in the cut, which can be a cause of irritation and pain. Also, the fact that it is open, even a slight breeze can cause pain to the area.

with regard to the sword injury, although this can be most things. There is a certain level of expectation that a wound or injury may occur, so you are ready and possibly expecting the pain. With paper cuts, yes you know they can happen, but you are not expecting to get cut when shuffling papers. The unexpected injury can therefore hurt more.

if i told you i was going to flick the end of your nose, you would be expecting it and the pain would be lessend. if i was to creep up behind you and suddenly flick the end of your nose, it would be unexpected and hurt more.
Logged
 

Offline Simulated

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7188
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Simulated..What more do you needa know :P
    • View Profile
    • Facebook
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #14 on: 21/12/2007 16:39:19 »
It clears it up for me! thanks
Logged
 

Offline i am bored (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 927
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
« Reply #15 on: 21/12/2007 17:52:05 »
oh i see now
Logged
if the pen is mightier than the sword then imagine how powerfull the printer is
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (5)

Why do small dogs yap but big dogs bark?

Started by thedocBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 1
Views: 4005
Last post 15/12/2016 09:14:25
by chris
Is infinitely big inversely equal to infinitely small?

Started by thedocBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 1
Views: 2707
Last post 13/07/2012 23:37:30
by Soul Surfer
Why are small bubbles white, but large bubbles are see through?

Started by thedocBoard Chemistry

Replies: 2
Views: 3432
Last post 16/10/2013 15:13:48
by dlorde
QotW - 20.02.23 - Are big dogs more intelligent than small dogs?

Started by melaniejsBoard Question of the Week

Replies: 3
Views: 6427
Last post 04/03/2020 16:49:09
by melaniejs
How can a small change in CO2 make a large change in climate?

Started by Imogen Game Board The Environment

Replies: 9
Views: 8197
Last post 28/03/2019 07:42:02
by ConnorGunning
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.177 seconds with 71 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.