ulnar nerve

The ulnar nerve is one of the few nerves in the entire human body that is not protected by muscle or bone. Nerves are usually protected by muscle or bone so that they're not exposed to being hit, banged, or bumped directly. When hitting an unprotected nerve a searing pain or strange sensation can hurt and cause adverse, although temporary effects such as pins and needles and numbness. When you hit your 'funny bone' you are not hitting a bone at all, but the exposed section of the ulnar nerve that is left unprotected in the elbow.