This paper presents the development and the validation of a finite element model (FEM) of the human cervical spine with the explicite PAM-CRASH TM FE code. The model consists of deformable vertebral bones, intervertebral discs, articular cartilages and ligaments with an approximated anatomical structure. The geometry and the material model are described, and the results of the simulations are compared with experimental results for frontal flexion, lateral flexion and compression of the human cervical spine in volunteer, cadaver and specimen tests. lt is concluded that the presented FEM shows a good agreement with the test results. The simulation results underline the great influence of the elastic behaviour of the vertebrae and the fixation boundary condition for the model on the global neck motion. The findings of the study show some possibilities of improving the biofidelity of the FE neck model. (A)
Abstract