Final answer:
The skeletal system, including the tibia and ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligament, are often injured during motor vehicle collisions and falls. Skull fractures resulting from such accidents can lead to brain injuries, while spinal cord injuries might result in hemiplegia or paraplegia depending on the nature and severity of the damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skeletal system is often injured during motor vehicle collisions, especially in cases of improperly placed seat belts or impact from the steering wheel, falls from heights or onto sharp objects, and bicycle and motorcycle crashes where the patient hits the handlebars on impact. Injuries can include damage to the tibia, particularly when the knee is extended and the foot is unable to move, which can lead to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. A forceful blow to the anterior knee can produce hyperextension or cause a quick change of direction that results in twisting and hyperextension of the knee.
Other common injuries affecting the skeletal system from such accidents are skull fractures, which may lead to brain injuries, potential disability, or death. In the case of spinal cord injuries, trauma such as a motorcycle accident can result in a hemisection, which can lead to hemiplegia on the side of the trauma—one leg being paralyzed. Moreover, falling onto an outstretched hand can lead to a Colles fracture of the distal radius, characterized by a "dinner fork" bend of the forearm above the wrist.