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

Your spinal cord that goes from brain to body is inside the neck bones. Break the spinal cord and your brain’s signal to inhale ceases to get to your diaphragm. You stop breathing and suffocate. You also lose ability to move around

Your heart runs on its own independent of the brain so it’ll keep on pumping for many minutes.