Why is it that, like in action movies, when you break someone’s neck they die? Isn’t it just like breaking your arm? I know there’s your medula there, but why does it kill you?

Question

Why is it that, like in action movies, when you break someone’s neck they die? Isn’t it just like breaking your arm? I know there’s your medula there, but why does it kill you?

In: Biology

Answer 1

As a side note, it is much more difficult to break someone’s neck that it is portrayed in the movies. A simple twist will most likely not do it and end up with nothing more than a painful sprain. You would have to twist someone’s head forcibly around much farther than you think to actually tear the cartilage and sever the spinal cord.