What does the ulnar nerve do?

What does the ulnar nerve do?

Did you know that your funny bone isn’t a bone? It’s a nerve. That unique, almost electric sensation you feel when you hit your funny bone is actually the compression of your ulnar nerve.

Your ulnar goes through a tunnel of tissues called the cubital tunnel, which travels under a bony bump on the inside of your elbow called the medial epicondyle. The space is narrow, and there's only a little tissue protecting it. That spot is where your ulnar nerve is most vulnerable. After the medial epicondyle, the ulnar nerve continues under the muscles on the inside of your forearm and into your hand — on the side that has your little finger (pinky). When it enters your hand, it goes through another tunnel called Guyon's canal.

Because of your ulnar nerve, you can control some of the bigger muscles in your forearm (the ones that help you grip objects), feel your little finger, feel half of your ring finger and control many of the muscles in your hand. Those muscles in your hand help you perform fine movements such as typing on a keyboard and playing a musical instrument.