Question

Think about the structure and function of your backbone. Why do you think there are discs of cartilage between the bones in the vertebral column? A man was in a car accident and fractured cervical vertebrae, his femur, and his fifth metatarsal. Explain his injuries to a "nonscience" person.

Answer 1

Answer:

Since this question actually has two parts to it, then I will answer each one separately, with an explanation.

1. Why do you think there are discs of cartilage between the bones in the vertebral column?

The first thing to remember about the column is that it provides the structural support for all of the upper body, including the head. The weight it holds, just with that, is pretty enormous and without the disks, the entire bone structure would collapse from the weight. These disks act as springs that absorb part of the pressure of weight on bone to prevent its fracturing. Second, the column provides protection for the really vulnerable, but vital, spinal cord. The disks also absorb hits and trauma that we experience everyday to prevent its effects from reaching the sensitive spinal cord. Finally, intervertebral disks allow for movement of the upper body and do not permit the head collapsing the spinal column with its much heavier weight. These disks, since they are like cushions, absorb all of the impacts of movement, daily activity, and trauma and permit movement because they allow bone to move without grinding against one another.

2. Since the person to whom we are going to explain the injuries of the man who was in the car accident, and whose femur, cervical vertebrae and fifth metatarsal were fractured, has no medical, or scientific knowledge, then we would say this. The injured person presents broken bones in the areas of the neck, the long bone of the thigh that connects the lower limbs to the hips and that he also broke the fifth long bone that connects the middle of the foot with the bones of the actual toe.