VOA常速英语:Bioengineered Spinal Disc Could Relieve Back Pain

短语讲解：

1. The spine is a column of bones alternating with flexible spinal discs.

alternate with轮流, 交换
例句：Wet days alternate with fine days.
雨天和晴天相间而来。

2. Cornell University neurosurgeon Roger Härtl says the disc has a gel-like interior surrounded by a stiffer outer section, which gives it a valuable combination of properties.

surround by以…环绕〔包围〕…
例句：Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.
每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。

3. "That structure together - the disc, made up of the annulus on the outside and the nucleus inside - is a very stable structure, Härtl says.

be made up of由…组成，由…构成
例句：The audience was made up of very young children.
观众由小孩子们组成。

4. However, it provides a certain amount of motion.

a amount of大量的
例句：We need a small amount of fuel.
我们需要少量的燃料。

5. That's why our spine is so incredibly flexible, if you look at the whole spine.

look at看, 注视
例句：The pupils are all looking at the chart on the wall.
学生都瞧着墙上的挂图。

6. So the engineering team have been able to replicate the normal structure of the disc, and we think that the combination of those two components - namely the nucleus and the annulus together - mimics to a very, very high degree what the normal spinal disc looks like and goes through in the human anatomy.

look like看起来与(某人或某物)相像〔相似〕
例句：He looks like a scholar.
他看上去像个学者。
go through讨论; 被通过; 举行; 经历
例句：They went through the marriage service.
他们举行了婚礼。