Construction and Verification of a Three -dimensional Finite Element Model of the C3 -C7 Lower Cervical Motion Segments
WANG Chenxi
ZHAO Gaiping
BAI Leilei
CHEN Nanxin
CHEN Eryun
ZHAO Qinghua
JIANG Liping
Abstract：A three -dimensional finite element model of the human lower cervical spine C3 -C7 motion segments was established based on the CT images combined with image processing software and to verify the validity of the model.The CT images of the lower cervical spine C3 -C7 from a healthy volunteer were selected for a three -dimensional finite element model establishment which was consisted of the vertebral body,the rear part of the structure,the end plate ,intervertebral discs,ligaments and facet joints.Cervical tissue were endowed with different composition of material properties to simulate human cervical spine withstand torque loads under nor-mal physiological conditions,the biomechanical properties of the cervical vertebrae,intervertebral discs and facet joints respectively in flexion,extension,lateral bending and rotation cases.The motion range of the cervical spine C3 -C7 under four cases were consisten-ted with the conclusions of previous studies in vitro experiments and finite element analysis of other people,the stress distribution of cervical vertebrae,intervertebral discs and facet joints were in accordance with its biomechanical properties.The simulation results of the lower cervical spine C3 -C7 are in accordance with the real movement of the human body,and lay a theoretical foundation for clini-cal cervical physiological pathology study and the analysis of the mechanical properties of the implanted devices.
Keywords：CT imagesLower cervical spine C3 -C7 segmentThree -dimensional modelBiomechanicsFinite element analysis
Publication Date：2015-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2026-09-11(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 80-84 )