You might be surprised to learn this, but the funny bone isn't actually a bone at all. It’s a nerve called the ulnar nerve.
What's the Ulnar Nerve?
The ulnar nerve runs down the inside part of your elbow. It travels through a passage near the elbow called the cubital tunnel. The ulner nerve lets the brain know about feelings in the fourth and fifth fingers. It's also one of the nerves that controls some movement of the hand.
Why It Feels Strange When It's Hit
Most people have accidently hit the inside of their elbow in just the right spot and felt a tingling or prickly kind of dull pain. That's the funny bone! It doesn't really hurt as much as it feels weird. The "funny bone" got its nickname because of that funny feeling a person gets after they hit it.
Anyone can get that funny feeling when their ulnar nerve is bumped against the humerus (say: HYOO-muh-rus), the long bone that starts at the elbow and goes up to the shoulder.
Is It Dangerous to Bump the Funny Bone?
Tapping the funny bone doesn't do any damage to the elbow, arm, or ulnar nerve. But it sure feels strange!
Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: October 2026
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
