# How does a virus physically grow so that it can be cut out? Aren't viri microscopic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140 "2010-11-10T04:22:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/1 "2010-11-10T04:22:12Z")
In the wikipedia article on [plantar’s warts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_wart): they have a graphic image of an excised wart. The thing is not tiny. But since these ‘warts’ are really a virus, how can they ‘exist’ physically like that? That is, HPV is a microscopic virus, how does it somehow have substantial physical substance and get that big? I dont get it. Is that flesh human or HPV? Another graph says that “every wart has its own blood supply and nerves”, but how does it get that? Does our body say, “What the f\*\*\*, give 'em some free juice!”? ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/2 "2010-11-10T04:33:05Z")
You are laboring under a misconception. The wart isn’t a virus. The virus infects skin cells, causing them to divide at a high rate. These infected cells form the wart. A wart is a virally-induced benign skin tumor. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/3 "2010-11-10T04:34:04Z")
The warts are \*caused \*by a virus, but they’re human flesh and (sometimes) blood. The virus causes the skin to grow all funky and weird. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/4 "2010-11-10T07:07:13Z")
Since the OP’s question has been answered, let me provide some uninvited additional information: The [plural of “virus”](http://www.google.com/search?q=plural+of+virus) is not “viri”. It is “viruses”. ---
**Author:** ![ramel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ramel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/5 "2010-11-10T07:15:39Z")
I’d argue that if most people say viruses, then the plural of virus is viruses. At least as far as day to day speech. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/6 "2010-11-10T08:47:09Z")
> [@ramel](#): > > I’d argue that if most people say viruses, then the plural of virus is viruses. At least as far as day to day speech. And I’d say the data is pretty clear that day-to-day speech always wins in the end. I don’t even care whether or not “virus” was a masculine second declension term in some other guy’s language. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/7 "2010-11-10T13:35:11Z")
> [@Fish\_Cheer](#): > > The [plural of “virus”](http://www.google.com/search?q=plural+of+virus) is not “viri”. It is “viruses”. > [@ramel](#): > > I’d argue that if most people say viruses, then the plural of virus is viruses. At least as far as day to day speech. > [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > And I’d say the data is pretty clear that day-to-day speech always wins in the end. > I don’t even care whether or not “virus” was a masculine second declension term in some other guy’s language. Umm.. yes? ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/8 "2010-11-10T14:35:15Z")
Winning battles nobody fought against you. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/9 "2010-11-10T14:41:24Z")
I’m in violent agreement with you, you bastard! ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/10 "2010-11-10T14:50:40Z")
Ignorance fought. I always thought that the plural was viruses. From now on I will keep guard of myself to make sure that I use the correct term, viruses. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/11 "2010-11-10T15:01:24Z")
In my experience, the people more likely to use “viri” or even “virii” are computer tech people. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/12 "2010-11-10T15:37:56Z")
If you go to slashdot right now and post either of those spellings in any topic, perhaps just the single word, you should be able to start a nice cascade of pedantic nerdosity. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/13 "2010-11-10T15:42:17Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > And I’d say the data is pretty clear that day-to-day speech always wins in the end. > I don’t even care whether or not “virus” was a masculine second declension term in some other guy’s language. I’m sorry, but I _must_ insist you turn in your pedant’s badge.😉 “Virii,” like penii and octopi, is pseudo-Latin. It’s the sort of thing that makes you look knowledgeable to the ignorant, but ignorant to the knowledgeable. The choice is yours which you wish to be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/14 "2010-11-10T16:07:39Z")
Viruses are not even microscopic, not the way that term is normally used to mean visible in a light microscope. When I worked in a lab studying T-viruses 56 years ago we used an electron microscope to see them. And “viruses” was the only plural used in that lab. Or any other, I imagine. Just an aside. I have started using “phenonums” having seen “phenonas” once too often. Some usage book I once saw said that in English, -s plurals are wrong only for old strong nouns, like “mouse”, but acceptable on all foreign borrowings. For example, I have studied things called toposes. Some ignorant pedants used the plural “topi” which might have been right if the singular had been topus and borrowed from Latin. Finally a less ignorant person discovered that the correct Greek plural was “topoi” and now half the people use the one and half the other. But if you use the Greek plural, aren’t you also constrained to inflect it for case? Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/15 "2010-11-10T16:08:12Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > If you go to slashdot right now and post either of those spellings in any topic, perhaps just the single word, you should be able to start a nice cascade of pedantic nerdosity. The previous six posts weren’t enough for you? Yesterday, a coworker need to talk about a “status” and then another one. Go ahead and guess how that turned out. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/16 "2010-11-10T16:14:28Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Some usage book I once saw said that in English, -s plurals are wrong only for old strong nouns, like “mouse”, but acceptable on all foreign borrowings. Mostly, but there are some exceptions. You will rarely see “datums” used outside of cartography, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/17 "2010-11-10T17:47:03Z")
[Let’s link directly to Wikipedia’s FAQ on the subject of plurals of -us words from Latin.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plural_form_of_words_ending_in_-us) In a nutshell, it says, “‘Viruses’ is correct, but here’s what you need to know in case you get into an argument about it…” Funny thing is that Latin had a similar relationship to Greek. The Romans adopted a lot of Greek nouns – some of them completely assimilated to Latin morphology, and others with Greek morphologies rendered in Latin characters. > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > But if you use the Greek plural, aren’t you also constrained to inflect it for case? Sigh. Nah. English handles number through morphology, but this is not true of case (except for certain pronouns). So, English handles alternate plurals like a champ, because there’s a niche for it in the language. Unlike plurals, there is no pre-established space for case morphology in English. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/18 "2010-11-10T17:50:45Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > And I’d say the **data is** pretty clear that day-to-day speech always wins in the end. I see what you did there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/19 "2010-11-10T18:07:49Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > they have a graphic image of an excised wart [OMFG, you weren’t kidding.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plantar_wart_papilloma.jpg) Warning: graphic image of an excised wart. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140/20 "2010-11-10T20:17:25Z")
Ok, let me play lil’ bo peep and move this thread back to the original subject and ask another foolish question: Why does the virus make the body create a ‘wart’? What benefit does the HPV get from this? It makes it more likely that the person will try to destroy the HPV. And also, if the wart is not the HPV itself, if you get rid of a wart, does that mean the HPV is gone? Are the wart and HPV one and the same or not? What if the wart is freezed-off and killed, does that mean you are cured? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-virus-physically-grow-so-that-it-can-be-cut-out-arent-viri-microscopic/560140.md?page=2)