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High-resolution three-dimensional computer simulation of hominid cranial mechanics
Stephen Wroe1, Karen Moreno, Philip Clausen
1School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia. s.wroe@unsw.edu.au
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
|September 12, 2007
Summary
Finite element analysis reveals non-uniform stress and strain distribution within primate skulls during feeding. This complex internal stress pattern may offer adaptive advantages by preventing catastrophic failure.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Computational Biology
- Paleontology
Background:
- In vivo studies show non-uniform surface strain on primate skulls during feeding.
- Existing in vivo methods cannot track internal stress and strain throughout the entire skull structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate three-dimensional (3-D) stress and strain distributions within the primate skull using finite element (FE) analysis.
- To determine if internal stress/strain patterns are non-uniform, as suggested by 2-D in vivo analyses.
Main Methods:
- Application of the finite element method with sophisticated computer models.
- Creation of models with up to three million tetrahedral finite elements.
- Inclusion of 3-D reconstructions of jaw adducting musculature with cranium and mandible in anatomical position.
Main Results:
- Simulations revealed steep internal stress and strain gradients throughout the primate skull.
- Results indicate that few cranial regions are optimized for routine feeding.
- External stress/strain patterns do not necessarily correlate with internal distributions.
Conclusions:
- The complex heterogeneity of skull bone may dissipate stress, requiring higher strain energy.
- This system might provide an adaptive advantage by allowing behavioral modification before structural failure.
- FE analysis is a valuable tool for understanding 3-D biomechanical processes in complex biological structures.
