[Sharon]

Paralysis of the diaphragm- the muscle to breathe gets it's innervation from the upper spinal cord through cervical nerves 2, 3,and 4. So fracturing the spine and injuring the spinal cord high above these nerves causes loss of respiration (like Christopher Reeves) and death.

The instant death occurs in craniocervical dislocation- the spinal cord becomes torn at the junction of the brain - as shown in the x-ray below.

The white arrow on the image shows the potentially fatal dislocation

[Sebring]

I think this is what they describe as "internal decapitation". There are stories out there where people have survived this type of injury. I'll try to find and post.

[GlassToTheArson]

Damn that sucks. So they suffocate then?

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Sebring ↗

I think this is what they describe as "internal decapitation". There are stories out there where people have survived this type of injury. I'll try to find and post.

Oh Lord, internal decapitations are horrific. I saw someone who survived that and they can't do ANYTHING except hear, see and blink

[Raising Cain]

Originally Posted by Sharon. ↗

Oh Lord, internal decapitations are horrific. I saw someone who survived that and they can't do ANYTHING except hear, see and blink

Personally I'd rather die.
The video from Metallica's "One" comes to mind.

[Rachee]

I wouldn't want to live that way

[Spiffyfable]

So that's kind of the opposite of having a Stiff Neck

[HmnTrch]

For the last year or so I've been worrying about this happening when I go to crack my neck. Sometimes when I do it my vision sort of jumps.

[quetza]

i believe the innervation of the diaphragm is actually cervical nerves 3, 4, and 5. just fyi, not trying to bust balls or anything

the little rhyme is "C 3, 4, 5 keep the diaphragm alive"

[D2D]