Department of Engineering, Medical and Biological Engineering Research Group, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
J R Soc Interface. 2013 Apr 24;10(84):20130216. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2013.0216. Print 2013 Jul 6.
Computer-based simulation techniques such as multi-body dynamics analysis are becoming increasingly popular in the field of skull mechanics. Multi-body models can be used for studying the relationships between skull architecture, muscle morphology and feeding performance. However, to be confident in the modelling results, models need to be validated against experimental data, and the effects of uncertainties or inaccuracies in the chosen model attributes need to be assessed with sensitivity analyses. Here, we compare the bite forces predicted by a multi-body model of a lizard (Tupinambis merianae) with in vivo measurements, using anatomical data collected from the same specimen. This subject-specific model predicts bite forces that are very close to the in vivo measurements and also shows a consistent increase in bite force as the bite position is moved posteriorly on the jaw. However, the model is very sensitive to changes in muscle attributes such as fibre length, intrinsic muscle strength and force orientation, with bite force predictions varying considerably when these three variables are altered. We conclude that accurate muscle measurements are crucial to building realistic multi-body models and that subject-specific data should be used whenever possible.
基于计算机的模拟技术，如多体动力学分析，在颅骨力学领域越来越受欢迎。多体模型可用于研究颅骨结构、肌肉形态和摄食性能之间的关系。然而，为了对建模结果有信心，模型需要根据实验数据进行验证，并且需要通过敏感性分析评估所选模型属性的不确定性或不准确性的影响。在这里，我们使用从同一标本收集的解剖学数据，将蜥蜴（Tupinambis merianae）的多体模型预测的咬合力与体内测量值进行比较。这个特定于主体的模型预测的咬合力非常接近体内测量值，并且还显示出随着咬颌向后移动，咬合力呈一致增加的趋势。然而，该模型对肌肉属性的变化非常敏感，例如纤维长度、内在肌肉力量和力方向，当这三个变量发生变化时，咬合力预测值会有很大的变化。我们得出的结论是，准确的肌肉测量对于构建现实的多体模型至关重要，并且应尽可能使用特定于主体的数据。
