Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function, 7th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073403717
ISBN 13: 978-0-07340-371-7

Chapter 13 - The Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Somatic Reflexes - Study Guide - Testing Your Comprehension - Page 506: 4

Answer

When you attempt to raise your left foot from the floor while keeping your right shoulder, hip, and foot firmly against the wall, you will likely find it challenging to lift your left foot without losing contact with the wall. Here's what happens and why: **What Happens:** As you try to raise your left foot, you'll notice that your body naturally leans or tilts to the right side. To keep your right shoulder, hip, and foot in contact with the wall, you will have to shift your entire body weight to the right. Essentially, your body compensates by moving laterally to maintain contact with the wall. **Why It Happens:** This phenomenon occurs due to the principle of the "center of mass" and the "principle of stability." These principles are based on biomechanics and the laws of physics. 1. **Center of Mass:** The center of mass of an object (or a person in this case) is the point at which the mass of the object is evenly distributed. In the upright standing position, your center of mass is generally located near your navel or the center of your pelvis. 2. **Principle of Stability:** To maintain balance and stability, your body attempts to keep the center of mass within the base of support. The base of support is the area encompassed by the points of contact between your body and a supporting surface, such as the wall in this scenario. When you raise your left foot while keeping the right side of your body in contact with the wall, your center of mass shifts to the right. To maintain stability and prevent yourself from falling, your body leans toward the right to keep the center of mass within the base of support (the wall and your right foot). This lateral shift in your body position allows you to maintain contact with the wall throughout the movement. **Principle Demonstrated:** This demonstration illustrates the principle of stability and how the body adjusts its position to maintain balance. It highlights the biomechanical concept that when the center of mass moves outside the base of support, stability is compromised, and the body must make adjustments to prevent falling. In this case, the adjustment involves shifting the body laterally to maintain contact with the wall and keep the center of mass within the base of support, thus demonstrating the principle of stability.

Work Step by Step

When you attempt to raise your left foot from the floor while keeping your right shoulder, hip, and foot firmly against the wall, you will likely find it challenging to lift your left foot without losing contact with the wall. Here's what happens and why: **What Happens:** As you try to raise your left foot, you'll notice that your body naturally leans or tilts to the right side. To keep your right shoulder, hip, and foot in contact with the wall, you will have to shift your entire body weight to the right. Essentially, your body compensates by moving laterally to maintain contact with the wall. **Why It Happens:** This phenomenon occurs due to the principle of the "center of mass" and the "principle of stability." These principles are based on biomechanics and the laws of physics. 1. **Center of Mass:** The center of mass of an object (or a person in this case) is the point at which the mass of the object is evenly distributed. In the upright standing position, your center of mass is generally located near your navel or the center of your pelvis. 2. **Principle of Stability:** To maintain balance and stability, your body attempts to keep the center of mass within the base of support. The base of support is the area encompassed by the points of contact between your body and a supporting surface, such as the wall in this scenario. When you raise your left foot while keeping the right side of your body in contact with the wall, your center of mass shifts to the right. To maintain stability and prevent yourself from falling, your body leans toward the right to keep the center of mass within the base of support (the wall and your right foot). This lateral shift in your body position allows you to maintain contact with the wall throughout the movement. **Principle Demonstrated:** This demonstration illustrates the principle of stability and how the body adjusts its position to maintain balance. It highlights the biomechanical concept that when the center of mass moves outside the base of support, stability is compromised, and the body must make adjustments to prevent falling. In this case, the adjustment involves shifting the body laterally to maintain contact with the wall and keep the center of mass within the base of support, thus demonstrating the principle of stability.
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