Method of quantitative anatomical study of the dorsal neck muscles (original) (raw)

Method of quantitative anatomical study of the dorsal neck muscles. Preliminary study

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy

Biomechanical models of the cervical spine require knowledge of the position, size and orientation of the individual muscles that act on the cervical spine. We have developed a technique to stereometrically measure anatomical specimens. The apparatus is composed of three graduated metallic rods, which slide along a fixed support. This method is accurate to map the anatomy of individual muscles and provides quantitative data on their lines of action. Results are obtained from one specimen. The computer processing of the collected data allows formulation of a three-dimensional model of the neck muscles in man.

Variation of neck muscle strength along the human cervical spine

Stapp car crash journal, 2004

The aim of this study was to describe and explain the variation of neck muscle strength along the cervical spine. A three-dimensional model of the head-neck complex was developed to test the hypothesis that the moment-generating capacity of the neck musculature is lower in the upper cervical spine than in the lower cervical spine. The model calculations suggest that the neck muscles can protect the lower cervical spine from injury during extension and lateral bending. The maximum flexor moment developed in the lower cervical spine was 2 times higher than that developed in the upper spine. The model also predicted that the neck musculature is 30% stronger in the lower cervical spine during lateral bending. Peak compressive forces (up to 3 times body weight) were higher in the lower cervical spine. These results are consistent with the clinical finding that extension loading of the neck often leads to injuries in the upper cervical spine. Analysis of the model results showed that neck...

Muscle parameters for musculoskeletal modelling of the human neck

Clinical Biomechanics, 2011

Background: To study normal or pathological neuromuscular control, a musculoskeletal model of the neck has great potential but a complete and consistent anatomical dataset which comprises the muscle geometry parameters to construct such a model is not yet available. Methods: A dissection experiment was performed on the left side of one 50th percentile male embalmed specimen. Geometrical data including muscle attachment sites were digitized using an Optotrak measurement system and laser diffraction was used to determine muscle sarcomere lengths. Bony landmarks were recorded and joint centres of rotation between different vertebrae were estimated using literature data. Findings: A total of 34 muscle parts of the neck were divided in 129 elements per body side. Muscle attachment sites, mass, physiological cross sectional area, fibre length, tendon length and optimal fibre length for each element are supplied as digital annexes to the paper. Results are coherent with other studies and new data are provided for several smaller muscles not reported elsewhere. Interpretation: Implementation of this dataset into a neck model is likely to improve the estimation of muscle forces and thus increase the model validity; this makes future neck models more suitable for the use as clinical tools.

A New Concept for Quantifying the Complicated Kinematics of the Cervical Spine and Its Application in Evaluating the Impairment of Clients with Mechanical Neck Disorders

Sensors, 2012

Mechanical neck disorder (MND) is one of the most common health issues and is characterized by restricted cervical mobility. However, traditional kinematic information often focuses on primary movement in the cardinal plane, which seems insufficient to fully determine the kinematics of the cervical spine because of the complexity of the anatomical structures involved. Therefore, the current investigation aimed to modify the concept of the three-dimensional workspace to propose an objective mathematical model to quantify the complicated kinematics of the cervical spine. In addition, the observation evaluated the characteristics of the cervical workspace in asymptomatic and MND groups. Seventeen healthy volunteers and twenty-five individuals with MND participated in the study and executed the motion of circumduction to establish the cervical workspace using an electromagnetic tracking system. The results produced a mathematical model to successfully quantify the cervical workspace. Moreover, MND groups demonstrated significant reduction in the normalization of the cervical workspace with respect to the length of the head-cervical complex. Accordingly, the current study provided a new concept for understanding the complicated kinematics of the cervical spine. The cervical workspace could be a useful index to evaluate the extent of impairment of the cervical spine and monitor the efficacy of rehabilitation programs for patients with MND.

Cervical Spine Muscle-Tendon Unit Length Differences Between Neutral and Forward Head Postures: Biomechanical Study Using Human Cadaveric Specimens

Physical therapy, 2017

Forward Head Posture (FHP) may be associated with neck pain and poor health-related quality of life. Literature describes only qualitative muscle length changes associated with FHP. To quantify how muscle-tendon unit lengths are altered when human cadaveric specimens are placed in alignments representing different severities of FHP. Biomechanical study using 13 fresh-frozen cadaveric cervical spine specimens (Occiput-T1, 54±15yrs). Specimens' postural changes simulating increasing FHP severity while maintaining horizontal gaze were assessed. Specimen-specific anatomic models derived from CT-based anatomic data were combined with postural data and specimen-specific anatomy of muscle attachment points to estimate the muscle length changes associated with FHP. FHP was associated with flexion of the mid-lower cervical spine and extension of the upper cervical (sub-occipital) spine. Muscles that insert on the cervical spine and function as flexors (termed "cervical flexors"...

A New Approach to Analysing Cervical Spinal Motion

1997

INTRODUCTION Several investigations on the problem of cervical spine motion describe the difficulties of measuring the movement exactly. Those models have to deal with the difficulties to fixate something at the human head and to track the range of motion in degrees concerning the three directions of movement, flexiodextension, lateral bending and rotation. The only objective method of measuring cervical spine movement and CO/C 1 or C 1lC2 displacements is the functional computer tomogram as described by Dvorak et. al. (1989). The aim of our survey has been to differ between the "normal" and pathologic cervical spine (after whip leash injuries, disc diseases or spondylarthrosis in sport) concerning with the range of movement and angular velocity. l b o Groups of 15 probants have been tested by a new computer-controlled setup. By using a three-dimensional motion-analysis-system special rigid-body software has been developed to calculate the cervical spine motion in all thre...

Experimental determination of cervical spine mechanical properties

Acta of bioengineering and biomechanics / Wrocław University of Technology, 2008

The results of research into human cervical spine mechanical parameters necessary for process modelling are presented. Our tests were divided into identification of tissues mechanical features and determination of data useful for validating human cervical spine models. Mechanical properties of the whole cervical spine as well as the stiffness of ligaments and discs were identified on the basis of tests on cadaveric spinal specimens. Thanks to our cooperation with medical practitioners, physiological cross-section areas of neck muscles were analysed using MRI. Functional computed tomography was used to determine kinematics of cervical vertebrae during head movement in sagittal and frontal planes.