All videosHuman body

Why A Stuck Coin Battery Burns Your Throat From Inside

Playing loads YouTube, which may use cookies.

Watch on YouTube

The real science

A coin battery has no sharp edges, but if it gets stuck in the esophagus, wet tissue completes its circuit. The current turns the body's own moisture into a strong alkaline chemical that burns the lining from the inside, and serious damage can start within about two hours. That's why these batteries now come in hard-to-open packaging. A swallowed battery is a medical emergency. Animated with AI-assisted 3D tools. For curiosity and education only. Don't try anything shown in this video.

Don’t try anything shown in this video.

Follow the facts

Sources for this one are being written up. Every fact is checked before the video goes out.

    Ask about this science

    Curious about something in “Why A Stuck Coin Battery Burns Your Throat From Inside”? Our AI-powered helper answers using only this page’s write-up and sources.

    AI answers can be wrong; check the sources. Not medical advice.

    Our illustrations simplify anatomy and scale. Educational content only; not medical advice.

    Still curious?