Final answer:
Yes, movement in the vertebral column and the symphysis pubis involves the compression of intervertebral discs, which are pads of fibrocartilage allowing for movement and providing cushioning within the spine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The movement in the vertebral column and symphysis pubis is indeed due to compressing a pad of cartilage. In particular, the intervertebral symphysis, found between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae, contains a thick pad known as an intervertebral disc.
This disc is composed of fibrocartilage and allows for small movements between the vertebrae while providing cushioning against impacts from running, jumping, or carrying heavy objects. As these discs can change shape, they contribute to the overall flexibility and movement of the spine. Moreover, they function as ligaments that hold the vertebrae together.
However, over time, the inner part of these discs, the nucleus pulposus, can harden and lose its shock-absorbing properties, affecting the spine's ability to handle compressive forces.
Concurrently, flexion, extension, and lateral flexion are the movements allowed by the vertebral column within different planes of motion, facilitated by the symphysis joint formed by each intervertebral disc and the synovial joint formed by the articular processes of the vertebrae. This comprehensive movement range of the spine is supported by the cushioning and binding properties of the intervertebral discs.