Explain Like I'm Five
About Community
A place to ask big questions and get simple answers. Whether it’s science, history, politics, or anything in between — this is where complex ideas get broken down in a way anyone can understand.
No question is too small, and no answer should be too complicated. If a five-year-old could get it, it belongs here.
Community Rules
- Explain for a layperson (not an actual 5 year old)
- Posts must ask a question
- Only answer if you actually know the answer; no guessing
- Answers should be factual information, not opinions
I am a pediatric ENT surgeon. Almost all of the surgeries I do there is little to no bleeding (less than a teaspoon).
The body is organized into layers, like an onion. There are layers where there are no blood vessels and if you work through those layers, you do not disrupt the vessels and there isn’t much bleeding.
When we find big vessels, we put stitches around them and tie them off to prevent bleeding.
Lastly, the tools that we use have the ability to use heat or electricity to zap blood vessels and stop bleeding.