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3D modeling of mouse dorsiflexor muscles
Carroll, Charles J.
Carroll, Charles J.
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2025-04
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Abstract
The accurate 3D modeling of musculoskeletal structures is essential for understanding mechanical stimuli in biomechanics. This study focuses on developing a 3D model of the tibialis anterior (TA), tibia, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and internal tendon of a mouse limb to analyze responses to electrical stimulation. The experimental setup involves sending electrical signals through the TA of a restrained mouse leg, necessitating precise anatomical modeling for future biomechanical simulations. High-resolution micro-CT scans were obtained and imported into 3D Slicer for segmentation, outlining cross-sections of the tibia, TA, EDL, and internal tendon. Segmentation produced a high facet count making files too large to import into other software. MeshLab was used for mesh simplification, reducing computational complexity while preserving accuracy. For modeling and refinement, SolidWorks, Blender, and Cubit were tested. SolidWorks was the most effective despite lofting challenges, a technique used to create a 3D model with smooth transitions between cross-sectional profiles. Blender provided superior smoothing but lacked precise parametric control, while Cubit excelled in meshing yet had a steep learning curve due to its reliance on command-based operations. Future work will focus on applying Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using FEBio, a biomechanics simulation software, to study the mechanical responses of the musculoskeletal system under electrical stimulation. The objective is to simulate how muscle tissue deforms and reacts to external forces, providing valuable insights for biomechanical research. Validation and verification will be conducted by comparing simulation results with experimental data from similar studies. This research lays the foundation for advanced biomechanical modeling by optimizing micro-CT scan processing, mesh simplification, and software selection, ultimately improving simulations of muscle response to external stimuli.
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