What exactly happens to our body when we get an accidental electric shock..?

Question

yesterday i had one on my left hand and it got numb for some time..i am curious to know why is this...?

Answer 1

Electric currents are the means by which the brain sends its signals to your muscles through your nervous system. When you receive an electric shock, your muscles interpret this input of electricity as a signal from your brain. If the shock is of the correct frequency and amplitude, your muscles may spasm or ache for several minutes afterward.

If the shock is of a large enough amplitude, the muscles will be, in effect, "overdriven" by the signal, just as a stereo speaker is overdriven by a bass amp. This can cause a number of side-effects, one of which may be numbness in the area of the shock. The numbness may last for several hours, and in extreme cases, may require medical attention.

When shocked with a current of only 1 milliamp, the normal nervous response is a sharp, short-lived pain. A current of only 10 milliamps will cause your muscles to spasm uncontrollably while in contact with the source of the charge, and for a short time afterward. Any current above approximately 100 millamps will likely cause severe tissue damage, and (if the current path passes through the torso) could result in cardiac arrest and death.

Answer 2

It really depends on the type, duration and intensity of the shock. Working in High-voltage electronics for a while, I got quite a few.

With your hand, I'm assuming that it was an AC shock, like from a wall outlet or something like that. The electricity will go through your body real easy because you are mostly water, with a good deal of salt. This makes a very good conductor.

The energy will cause cells to heat up and it will disrupt nerve cells (which work with an electrochemical reaction). It will also cause the muscles to contract violently, and in some cases this can reduce the blood flow. That may be part of why your hand went numb. The most common injury from an electric shock is a burn. If it goes through the body, from one side to another, it can disrupt the cycling of the heart.

My worst shock was with 550V DC. I was reaching around the back of a piece of equipment to remove the fuse. I got burns on both hands, and I heard this large BOOM. I didn't go to the doctor until 3 days later and he explained that theboom was my eardrums moving violently.

Electricity can do some really weird things to the body. I'm glad that you didn't receive any serious injury.

Answer 3

All of your muscles in your body work (move) because your brain send them electrical signals. Grab the wrong bare wire and the signals get messed up.

Answer 4

mine did too, its shock it doesnt do your body any good, but it goes away for most people, look it up on line.