Approximate surface development of the left side half-trunk by a free-formed model

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Anatomy
• Surface Topography

Background:

• Understanding torso skin mechanics is crucial for fields like apparel design and medical applications.
• Previous studies have not comprehensively quantified skin deformation under various postures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively compare the surface development, skin length, and surface area of the female trunk in static versus stretched postures.
• To analyze the topographical changes in anterior and posterior trunk skin during stretching.

Main Methods:

• Utilized moiré topography with computer-generated geometrical models to obtain data from 51 female students.
• Measured and compared skin dimensions in both static and stretched (anterior and posterior) trunk positions.

Main Results:

• Anterior stretching caused skin elongation, transformation of concave to convex surfaces, and a 25% decrease in upper trunk area, while other areas increased 8-15%.
• Posterior stretching led to significant skin elongation (up to 35% in the infrascapular region) and enlargement (up to 25% in the back center), with some areas contracting.
• Total anterior surface area increased from 1.20 m² to 1.29 m², and posterior surface area from 1.26 m² to 1.37 m² upon stretching.

Conclusions:

• Torso skin exhibits differential responses to stretching, with the posterior skin demonstrating greater capacity for elongation and enlargement than the anterior skin.
• These findings provide valuable data for understanding skin biomechanics and have implications for garment fit and ergonomic design.