YOUR AMAZING BODY

YOUR big toe is among the body parts with the greatest number of nerve endings.

These fibres – nociceptors – are highly sensitive, and when touched will all at once fire off signals to the brain. They are concentrated in a small area at the tip of the toe, which is why stubbing one is so painful.

Nociceptors are found all over the body, but as well as big toes are concentrated in high densities in the fingertips and lips. This is why minor incidents, such as paper cuts and chapped lips, can hurt much more than you would expect.