Citation

Ejima S, Wittek A, Ono K, Yamazaki K. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 2003; 2003: 8 p..

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, In public domain, Publisher National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the present study, the effects of cervical spine initial alignment, muscle activity, and the selected properties of trachea, vena cava and inactivated muscles on the responses of a finite element model of a cervical spine (H-Model by the ESI Group) under direct head loading were investigated. The modelling results were compared with those of volunteers. The present results suggest the following: Properties of inactivated muscles, vena cava and trachea greatly affect the general head motion; Maximum isometric force plays an important role in resisting neck extension; and Reflex time determining the start of generation of active muscle force considerably affects the angular displacement of cervical vertebrae. Based on these findings, the modifications of the cervical spine H-Model were introduced. The modified model well represented the head-C7 motion, although it underestimated the head-atlas extension.