Meet a Scientist - Dr. O'Connell

Dr O'Connell studies the soft tissues in the ________, specifically the squishy discs between the vertabrae.

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CELLS. CUSHIONS TISSUE OXTAILS. SPINE

Intervertebral discs act like _________ between the vertebrae, allowing the spine to bend.

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CELLS. CUSHIONS TISSUE OXTAILS. SPINE

O'Connell's lab has two main goals: to study the healthy discs and to grow new disc _______ that behaves like healthy discs

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CELLS. CUSHIONS TISSUE OXTAILS. SPINE

Some of the cells O'Connell studies come from human medical patients, while others come from ______ from the butcher shop.

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CELLS. CUSHIONS TISSUE OXTAILS. SPINE

O'Connell says one of the biggest challenges is that the _______ don't always do what you want them to.

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CELLS. CUSHIONS TISSUE OXTAILS. SPINE

What does O'Connell hope to change about the way doctors treat damaged or worn-out discs?

• remove the discs completely

• grow brand-new disc tissue to replace old or injured discs

• use metal implants instead of discs

• fuse more vertebrae together

What was O'Connell's original career interest before studying bioengineering?

• medicine

• chemistry

• aeronautical engineering

• marine biology

Why do doctor's currently glue vertebrae together when treating worn-out discs?

• to increase flexibility

• to reduce plain

• to make the spine longer

• to improve posture

What does Dr. O'Connell say is the hardest part of her job?

• working long hours

• dealing with dangerous materials

• finding out that there are some things that nobody knows

• getting funding for research

According to the article, what creates the tissue that gives a joint its function?

• bones

• muscles

• cells

• nerves