Physically-based, Anatomic Modeling for Construction of Musculoskeletal Systems

by Victor Ng-Thow-Hing
Supervisor: Eugene Fiume


Project Description

We are developing an anatomically-based modeling system that integrates both the physical and geometric properties of muscle and tendon for the purpose of constructing and simulating musculoskeletal systems. Our goal is to create a muscle model that can be embedded with physical properties to enable animation of active muscle contraction and other inertial effects as the muscles move with their underlying bones.

This is work in progress for my PhD thesis. Updates of the work and related technical publications can be found at: http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/people/victorng/research.html.

Examples

Note that all animations are in Quicktime format.
  • Example 1: Shoulder muscles were added to a human skeleton model. Animation 1 is a turntable animation showing the muscles attached to the skeleton. Animation 2 shows the skeleton flexing with subsequent deformation in the muscles.
  • Example 2: Animation 3 shows an example of possible applications for reconstructing leg motion and musculature for part of a deinonychus dinosaur. The musculotendons have been made transparent to allow the bones underneath to be visible.
  • Example 3: Sequence of frames are displayed in Animation 4 that illustrate how the muscles are created by first sketching profile curves directly onto the bones. The muscles can be subsequently textured or made transparent for visualization. Step through the frames of this animation slowly to observe the distinct stages of musculotendon construction.
  • Example 4: Profile curves are generated from a serial dissection of human soleus muscle. Animation 5 shows how fibers can be generated and visualized within the volume of the muscle.
  • Example 5: Animation 6 has simulated muscle fibers in the human soleus specimen (posterior fiber region) contracted while maintaining constant volume. Notice how the volume preservation forces cause the fibers to straighten up in orientation while contraction takes place. This has been observed in ultrasound video.