Vertebrates: Their Role and Function One of the most essential parts of our bodies is our backbone. This is the set of bones that runs along the center of our back, connecting to our brain at the top. All living species that have a backbone are called vertebrates. All mammals, birds and most reptiles are in the vertebrate category This even includes fish with bones. The backbone is sometimes called a spinal column. It runs down the back of the animal and protects and supports the nerves inside. This is just like a plastic pipe protecting electrical cables inside your home. Without this protective backbone, our nerves that connect with our muscles, arms and legs could easily be damaged.
Characteristics The most advanced organisms on Earth are vertebrates. They are the smartest creatures like dolphins, chimpanzees, elephants and humans. But when the first vertebrates evolved about 525 million years ago, they were simple creatures. Later, reptiles comprised the majority of vertebrates, then dinosaurs, birds and finally mammals All vertebrates have muscles and skeletons. Also, they usually have two pairs of limbs. In humans, this is represented by arms and legs while birds have wings and legs. Of course, fish do not have limbs, but they use two sets of fins for steering through the water. All of this means that vertebrates were able to move to a new environment when conditions changed. By being mobile, they could choose where to live more easily than other types of animals A Human Shock Absorber Inside the spinal column of a human. there are 24 bones referred to a vertebrae. Between each vertebra bone is a circular-shaped disc. These discs,separated into five distinct sections, rotate or move around as your body moves. If a basketball player jumps and shoots the ball, the discs will turn inside the spinal column. This allows the player to twist in the air. Connecting all these bones and discs is tissue called ligaments. These ligaments are just like an elastic band, stretching and moving as you do. When a person falls or lands on the ground very hard, the vertebrae, discs and ligaments absorb the shock so that you don't get hurt. Together, these three parts function as a joint, allowing our body to bend or twist.