Simulation and animation of musculoskeletal joint system.

This paper describes the development of computer-based software for three-dimensional geometric data base of the human musculoskeletal system. Using a computer graphics workstation, a user of the software will interactively display detailed information about the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone, and joint anatomy. This software will enable a wide range of health care workers to visualize complex physiological data. In addition to geometric and visual realism, this software will include kinematic relationships which allow the calculation and display of the motion and forces of the joints, muscles, and tendons. This will permit a user to interactively move joints or tendons and display the resulting motion of the surrounding tissues, as well as internal reactive forces and joint pressure distribution. A two-dimensional version of this software is currently being used for knee and hip osteotomy preoperative planning, total joint replacement prosthesis design and dimensional selection, and osteochondral allograft sizing and reconstruction using radiographic data.