Re: which provides greater protection a hard or soft body structure?

Michael,

Rigid and soft tissues do offer protection, but in different ways. Skeletal or armor-like structures are best at preventing concentrated blows or penetrating attacks like teeth or claws from reaching whatever tissues are inside, while soft tissues are good at absorbing and damping out accelerative forces, shock and vibration.

A good example of the differences in structure can be found in a human body: where protection from bites and crushing are most important you find hard structures over the most vital organs like the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. Where cushioning against shock and vibration is important, you find soft tissues or fluid-filled structures, like the strong abdominal walls, or the dura mater and cerebrospinal fluid on the brain and spinal cord or the pericardium around the heart.