A three-dimensional model of the human cervical spine for impact simulation

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Williams, J. L.¹; Belytschko, T. B.²

A three-dimensional model of the human cervical spine for impact simulation

J Biomech Eng. November 1983;105(4):321-331

©1983 ASME

Affiliations

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. 02115

²Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. 60201
Abstract

A three-dimensional analytical model of the cervical spine is described. The cervical vertebrae and the head are modeled as rigid bodies which are interconnected by deformable elements representing the intervertebral disks, facet joints, ligaments and muscles. A special pentahedral continuum element for representing the articular facets is described which effectively maintains stability of the cervical spine in both lateral and frontal plane accelerations, which is very difficult with multi-spring models of the facets. A simplified representation is used for the spine and body below the level of T1. The neck musculature is modeled by over 100 muscle elements representing 22 major muscle groups in the neck. The model has been validated for frontal and sideways impact accelerations by simulating published experimental data. Results are also presented to show the effects of the stretch reflex response on the dynamics of the head and neck under moderate acceleration.
Links

DOI: 10.1115/1.3138428

PubMed: 6645440

WoS: A1983RS35800002
History

Received: 1982-07-12

Revised: 1983-05-20

Cited Works (8)

Year	Entry
1972	Ewing CL, Thomas DJ. Human Head and Neck Response to Impact Acceleration. Pensacola, FL: Naval Aerospace and Regional Medical Center, Naval Aerospace Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory; August 10, 1972. NAMRL Monograph 21.
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1970	Yamada H. Strength of Biological Materials. Evans FG, ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins Company; 1970.
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1974	Prasad P, King AI. An experimentally validated dynamic model of the spine. J Appl Mech. September 1974;41(3):546-550.
1971	McKenzie JA, Williams JF. The dynamic behaviour of the head and cervical spine during "whiplash". J Biomech. December 1971;4(6):477-490.
1972	Markolf KL. Deformation of the thoracolumbar intervertebral joints in response to external loads: a biomechanical study using autopsy material. J Bone Joint Surg. April 1972;54A(3):511-533.

Cited By (36)

Year	Entry
2005	Manoogian SJ, Kennedy EA, Duma SM. An Updated Literature Review of Musculoskeletal Injuries to the Human Neck and the Effects of Head-Supported Mass Worn by Soldiers. Fort Rucker, AL: U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory; October 2005. USAARL Contract Report CR-2006-01.
1990	Dietrich M, Kedzior K, Zagrajek T. Modeling of muscle action and stability of the human spine. In: Winters JM, Woo SL-Y, eds. Multiple Muscle Systems: Biomechanics and Movement Organization. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1990:451-460.
1996	Newman JA, Withnall C, Gibson TJ, Rogers N, Zellner JW. Performance specifications for the neck of a motorcyclist anthropometric test dummy. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1679-1689.
2007	Esat V, Acar M. A multi-body model of the whole human spine for whiplash investigations. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2005	Siegmund GP, Blouin J, Brault JR, Hedenstierna S, Inglis JT. Electromyography of superficial and deep neck muscles during isometric, voluntary and reflex contractions. In: Proceedings of the 33rd International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. 2005.167-187.
1992	Margulies SS, Meaney DF, Bilston LB, Thibault LE, Campeau NG, Riederer SJ. In vivo motion of the human cervical spinal cord in extension and flexion. In: Proceedings of the 1992 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 9-11, 1992; Verona, Italy.213-224.
1993	de Jager M. Mathematical modelling of the human cervical spine: a survey of the literature. In: Proceedings of the 1993 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1993; Eindhoven, The Netherlands.213-227.
1998	Bilston LE. Finite element analysis of some cervical spinal cord injury modes. In: Proceedings of the 1998 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 16-18, 1998; Göteberg, Sweden.365-375.
2005	Esat V, Acar M. A multi-body human spine model for dynamic analysis in conjunction with the FE analysis of spinal parts. In: Proceedings of the 1st Ohio State University Injury Biomechanics Symposium. May 19-21, 2005; Columbus, OH.
1994	de Jager M, Sauren A, Thunnissen J, Wismans J. A three-dimensional head-neck model: validation for frontal and lateral impacts. In: Proceedings of the 38th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 31–November 2, 1994; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:93-109. SAE 942211.
1995	Myers BS, Van Ee CA, Camacho DLA, Woolley CT, Best TM. On the structural and material properties of mammalian skeletal muscle and its relevance to human cervical impact dynamics. In: Proceedings of the 39th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 8-10, 1995; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:203-214. SAE 952723.
2001	Seidel H, Griffin MJ. Modelling the response of the spinal system to whole-body vibration and repeated shock. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2001;16(suppl 1):S3-S7.
2001	Yoganandan N, Kumaresan S, Pintar FA. Biomechanics of the cervical spine, II: cervical spine soft tissue responses and biomechanical modeling. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). January 2001;16(1):1-27.
1989	Liu YK, Dai QG. The second stiffest axis of a beam-column: implications for cervical spine trauma. J Biomech Eng. May 1989;111(2):122-127.
2007	Siegmund GP, Blouin J-S, Brault JR, Hedenstierna S, Inglis JT. Electromyography of superficial and deep neck muscles during isometric, voluntary, and reflex contraction. J Biomech Eng. February 2007;129(1):66-77.
1998	Goel VK, Clausen JD. Prediction of load sharing among spinal components of a C5-C6 motion segment using the finite element approach. Spine. March 15, 1998;23(6):684-691.
1998	Camacho DLA. Dynamic Response of the Head and Cervical Spine to Near-Vertex Head Impact: An Experimental and Computational Study [PhD thesis]. Durham, NC: Duke University; 1998.
2000	Van Ee CA. Tensile Properties of the Human Muscular and Ligamentous Cervical Spine [PhD thesis]. Duke University; 2000.
2004	van Lopik D. A Computational Model of the Human Head and Cervical Spine for Dynamic Impact Simulation [PhD thesis]. Loughborough, UK: Loughborough University; 2004.
2006	Esat V. Biomechanical Modelling of the Whole Human Spine for Dynamic Analysis [PhD thesis]. Loughborough University; June 2006.
1985	Yoganandan N. Mechanical Factors and the Threshold of Trauma of the Intervertebral Joint: A Finite Element Analysis With Experimental Validation [PhD thesis]. Marquette University; December 1985.
2004	Stemper BD. Whiplash Affects Cervical Spine Biomechanics [PhD thesis]. Marquette University; May 2004.
1997	Duncan NA. The Mechanics of Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis [PhD thesis]. McGill University; February 1997.
2009	Dai Y. Subject-Specific Computational Modeling of Spinal Constructs [PhD thesis]. University of Notre Dame; April 2009.
2004	Mordaka JK. Finite Element Analysis of Whiplash Injury for Women [PhD thesis]. Nottingham, UK: Nottingham Trent University; September 2004.
1991	Kasra M. Experimental and Finite Element Dynamic Response Analyses of a Human Lumbar Motion Segment [PhD thesis]. École polytechnique de Montréal; March 1991.
1999	Cripton PA. Load-Sharing in the Human Cervical Spine [PhD thesis]. Queen's University; November 1999.
1999	Matsumoto Y. Dynamic Response of Standing and Seated Persons to Whole-Body Vibration: Principal Resonance of the Body [PhD thesis]. Southampton, England: University of Southampton; June 1999.
2020	Fanton M. Effect of Cervical Spine and Helmet Properties on Traumatic Brain Injury [PhD thesis]. Stanford University; July 2020.
1996	de Jager MKJ. Mathematical Head-Neck Models for Acceleration Impacts [PhD thesis]. Eindhoven, The Netherlands: Eindhoven University of Technology; 1996.
2002	van der Horst MJ. Human Head Neck Response in Frontal, Lateral and Rear End Impact Loading: Modelling and Validation [PhD thesis]. Eindhoven, The Netherlans: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven; 2002.
2007	Saari A. Spinal Cord Deformation During Axial Impact Injury of the Cervical Spine [Master's thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; January 2007.
1994	Bilston LE. The Biomechanics of the Spinal Cord During Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury [PhD thesis]. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania; 1994.
2006	Panzer MB. Numerical Modelling of the Human Cervical Spine in Frontal Impact [Master's thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2006.
2007	Hu J. Neck Injury Mechanism in Rollover Crashes: A Systematic Approach for Improving Rollover Neck Protection [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; 2007.
1996	Choi H. Muscle Forces and Spinal Loads in the Human Neck: An EMG Experiment and a Comparison of Three Modeling Methods [PhD thesis]. University of Wisconsin – Madison; 1996.