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In Biology / High School | 2025-07-08

Make a model of the backbone. You will need some spools of thread, some large buttons, and a pipe cleaner. Thread the pipe cleaner through a spool, then a button, again a spool, and then a button until you have used all the spools and buttons. The spool represents the bones or vertebrae, the buttons represent the discs between the vertebrae, and the pipe cleaner represents the spinal cord inside the backbone.

Asked by oliviapdance2305

Answer (1)

Creating a model of the backbone using spools of thread, large buttons, and a pipe cleaner is a great hands-on activity to understand the basic structure of the spine.
The backbone, or spine, is a crucial part of the human skeleton. It consists of a series of bones called vertebrae and cushioning discs between them. The spinal cord runs through the center of these vertebrae, protected by the spine structure.
Here's how you can make the model:

Gather Materials: You will need several spools of thread, some large buttons, and a pipe cleaner.

Pipe Cleaner: The pipe cleaner in this model represents the spinal cord. It will run through the center of both the spools and buttons.

Thread the Pipe Cleaner: Start by threading the pipe cleaner through a spool. The spool represents the vertebra, which are the bones of the spine.

Add a Button: Next, thread a button onto the pipe cleaner. The button acts as the intervertebral disc. These discs are soft tissue structures that sit between the bones and provide cushioning.

Repeat the Process: Continue alternating between spools and buttons, threading the pipe cleaner through them until all the spools and buttons are used. This alternation represents the alternating pattern of bones and discs in the human spine.

Finishing Touch: Once all parts are threaded, shape the pipe cleaner to look like the gentle curve of the spine.


This model visually and physically demonstrates how vertebrae (spools) are separated by discs (buttons) and how the spinal cord (pipe cleaner) threads through them, providing a simplified view of how the human backbone is structured. This hands-on project is a fantastic way to understand the anatomy of the spine and its functional design in a human-friendly and interactive manner.

Answered by RyanHarmon181 | 2025-07-21