What happens if you break a zombies neck?

[N1x0n's B4ck]

In The Walking Dead, a zombies brain must be destroyed or severely damage for it to actually die, thus hitting it anywhere else does nothing other than slow it down.

However, for years I have been curious as to what exactly would happen if you were to snap a zombies neck. It's not technically destroying its brain, however I've done some research on neck breaking and apparently it has something to do with your spine being directly connected to your brain, which could possibly indicate that it does actually damage the brain.

So, considering that, what exactly would happen if one were to break its neck? Would it die? Do nothing? It's quite unclear.

DISCLAIMER: I am strictly talking about the zombies from The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead, so please do not use something like the neck breaker from Dying Light as a reference, as those zombies are far different.

[[FFK3] Trovaa]

Zombies in TWD can have their heads cut off and still function specifically in the head. This has been shown in many seasons of the series.
In the episode where the doctor guy explains how the virus works IIRC he says that the virus specifically infects the brain after someone dies, so that only the brain is revived and activates things in the body including movement sight and hearing

[smoka-cola]

in realistic terms i'd think simple brain damage wouldnt be enough to stop a zombie, you'd have to direct the damage towards something like the brain stem.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

call a zombulance and take it to the zospital for major zurgery

[videogames10]

N1x0n's B4ck님이 먼저 게시:

What happens if you break a zombies neck?

You can't, they're elastic. Even if you put your foot on their shoulder while trying to pull their head off, it won't work. Their neck will stretch and their head will just snap back into place when you eventually get tired of pulling. I suppose you could try punching them in the stomach and hope they don't puke on you. I'm not sure what that would accomplish though.

Did I mention that a zombie's neck sounds something like this when it's being stretched? Don't ask me how I know that though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J73YJZflBLc

[Kargor]

N1x0n's B4ck님이 먼저 게시:

So, considering that, what exactly would happen if one were to break its neck? Would it die? Do nothing? It's quite unclear.

Things like that are always inconsistent, don't worry about it.

Take "Highlander": to kill one of those, you must cut off their head. Sounds simple enough, but what if you don't cut off the head? What if you cut them in half, top to bottom? Will there be 2 half-people walking around? What if you cut off their shoulders? The upper half of their head?

In a game like the one you mentioned, it just determines the game mechanics and serves as an excuse why normal hits won't work. In "Highlander", it's a story vehicle as well -- they get shot or stabbed and just walk away, while those who know what do to are still a legitimate threat. Nobody really bothers with the fine print.

[A Terrible Modder]

ripping of a zombies head (or cutting the spine) will have 2 differing effects depending on the zombie type

type 1 zombie becomes paralyzed and dies (this is assuming the zombie is using the brain and other organs to keep the body alive, kinda like a crazed canabalistic mental state zombie)

type 2 zombie continues running in a strait line and or goes nuts on the ground (this is assuming the body is rotting and all vital organs have quit working and whatever has caused the zombification is only using sensory organs and the muscles ignoring the nerves)