The spine? ?

Question

How is the spinal cord protected?

Why does a slipped vertebral disc cause severe pain in the back?

Why does a broken back cause complete paralysis of the legs?

Answer 1

its protected by the vertabrae. in each vertevrae there is a hole. the spinal cord fits into the holes in each vertebrae. I am sure there are mucles, ligaments etc protecting it too, but the spine protects it. if you break a portion of your spine the bone fragments can damage the spinal cord. your discs are what cushion each vertebrae. they stack up together to form the spine. the nerves branch out of the spinal cord and are everywhere in your body. the disc is not suppose to slip or pooch out, when it does it presses on the nerves causing pain.