Programme Index

Discover 11,128,835 listings and 280,433 playable programmes from the BBC

Nina and the Neurons: Brilliant Bodies

Episode 19: Spine

First broadcast: on CBeebiesLatest broadcast: on CBeebies HD

Nina investigates why people's backs are so bumpy, with the help of Felix, her touch neuron.

Experimenters Cara, Kai and Rianna visit Nina in her lab and find out that backs feel bumpy because the backbone - or spine - is made up of lots of little hard bones. These protect something called the spinal cord which the brain uses to talk to the rest of the body.

They go to an exercise class and do lots of bendy, stretchy moves. Nina explains that people are able to bend and stretch in lots of different, useful ways because the spine is made up of lots of little bones, not one big, long, hard bone.

Back in the lab, they do a smashing experiment with eggs and discover that there are little soft discs between the bones in the spine. These act as little cushions, stopping the bones from bashing together when people move. Show less

About this data

This data is drawn from the data stream that informs BBC's iPlayer and Sounds. The information shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was/is subject to change and may not be accurate. More