Experimental flexion/extension data corridors for validation of finite element models of the young, normal cervical spine.

Finite element (FE) modeling is an important tool for studying the cervical spine in normal, injured and diseased conditions. To understand the role of mechanical changes on the spine as it goes from a normal to a diseased or injured state, experimental studies are needed to establish the external response of young, normal cervical spinal segments compared to injured or degenerated cervical spinal segments under physiologic loading. It is important to differentiate injured or degenerated specimens from young, normal specimens to provide accurate experimental results necessary for the validation of FE models.

Anatomic study of the morphology of human cervical facet joint.

Study Design: Geometrical properties of the facet joint including cartilage thickness and gap were obtained using human cadaver cervical spinal columns and cryomicrotomy techniques.

Objectives: To determine the existence of level or gender dependency on facet joint morphology in the human cervical spine.

Background Data: Although measurements of the human cervical spine have been reported in literature, to the best of knowledge of the authors, geometrical data on the facet joint structures such as the cartilage are not available.