Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments
Introduction Knowledge of internal finger loading during human and non-human primate activities such as tool use or knuckle-walking has become increasingly important to reconstruct the behaviour of fossil hominins based on bone morphology. Musculoskeletal models have proven useful for predicting the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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PeerJ Inc.
2019-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/7470.pdf |
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| author | Alexander Synek Szu-Ching Lu Evie E. Vereecke Sandra Nauwelaerts Tracy L. Kivell Dieter H. Pahr |
| author_facet | Alexander Synek Szu-Ching Lu Evie E. Vereecke Sandra Nauwelaerts Tracy L. Kivell Dieter H. Pahr |
| author_sort | Alexander Synek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Knowledge of internal finger loading during human and non-human primate activities such as tool use or knuckle-walking has become increasingly important to reconstruct the behaviour of fossil hominins based on bone morphology. Musculoskeletal models have proven useful for predicting these internal loads during human activities, but load predictions for non-human primate activities are missing due to a lack of suitable finger models. The main goal of this study was to implement both a human and a representative non-human primate finger model to facilitate comparative studies on metacarpal bone loading. To ensure that the model predictions are sufficiently accurate, the specific goals were: (1) to identify species-specific model parameters based on in vitro measured fingertip forces resulting from single tendon loading and (2) to evaluate the model accuracy of predicted fingertip forces and net metacarpal bone loading in a different loading scenario. Materials & Methods Three human and one bonobo (Pan paniscus) fingers were tested in vitro using a previously developed experimental setup. The cadaveric fingers were positioned in four static postures and load was applied by attaching weights to the tendons of the finger muscles. For parameter identification, fingertip forces were measured by loading each tendon individually in each posture. For the evaluation of model accuracy, the extrinsic flexor muscles were loaded simultaneously and both the fingertip force and net metacarpal bone force were measured. The finger models were implemented using custom Python scripts. Initial parameters were taken from literature for the human model and own dissection data for the bonobo model. Optimized model parameters were identified by minimizing the error between predicted and experimentally measured fingertip forces. Fingertip forces and net metacarpal bone loading in the combined loading scenario were predicted using the optimized models and the remaining error with respect to the experimental data was evaluated. Results The parameter identification procedure led to minor model adjustments but considerably reduced the error in the predicted fingertip forces (root mean square error reduced from 0.53/0.69 N to 0.11/0.20 N for the human/bonobo model). Both models remained physiologically plausible after the parameter identification. In the combined loading scenario, fingertip and net metacarpal forces were predicted with average directional errors below 6° and magnitude errors below 12%. Conclusions This study presents the first attempt to implement both a human and non-human primate finger model for comparative palaeoanthropological studies. The good agreement between predicted and experimental forces involving the action of extrinsic flexors—which are most relevant for forceful grasping—shows that the models are likely sufficiently accurate for comparisons of internal loads occurring during human and non-human primate manual activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:56:25Z |
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| language | English |
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| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-3151b927210c48b9ae8fd9bf94e2d7702023-12-03T01:00:20ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592019-08-017e747010.7717/peerj.7470Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experimentsAlexander Synek0Szu-Ching Lu1Evie E. Vereecke2Sandra Nauwelaerts3Tracy L. Kivell4Dieter H. Pahr5Institute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU Wien, Vienna, AustriaLaboratory for Innovation in Autism, School of Education, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United KingdomDepartment of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven, Kortrijk, BelgiumDepartment of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, BelgiumAnimal Postcranial Evolution Lab, Skeletal Biology Research Centre, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United KingdomInstitute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU Wien, Vienna, AustriaIntroduction Knowledge of internal finger loading during human and non-human primate activities such as tool use or knuckle-walking has become increasingly important to reconstruct the behaviour of fossil hominins based on bone morphology. Musculoskeletal models have proven useful for predicting these internal loads during human activities, but load predictions for non-human primate activities are missing due to a lack of suitable finger models. The main goal of this study was to implement both a human and a representative non-human primate finger model to facilitate comparative studies on metacarpal bone loading. To ensure that the model predictions are sufficiently accurate, the specific goals were: (1) to identify species-specific model parameters based on in vitro measured fingertip forces resulting from single tendon loading and (2) to evaluate the model accuracy of predicted fingertip forces and net metacarpal bone loading in a different loading scenario. Materials & Methods Three human and one bonobo (Pan paniscus) fingers were tested in vitro using a previously developed experimental setup. The cadaveric fingers were positioned in four static postures and load was applied by attaching weights to the tendons of the finger muscles. For parameter identification, fingertip forces were measured by loading each tendon individually in each posture. For the evaluation of model accuracy, the extrinsic flexor muscles were loaded simultaneously and both the fingertip force and net metacarpal bone force were measured. The finger models were implemented using custom Python scripts. Initial parameters were taken from literature for the human model and own dissection data for the bonobo model. Optimized model parameters were identified by minimizing the error between predicted and experimentally measured fingertip forces. Fingertip forces and net metacarpal bone loading in the combined loading scenario were predicted using the optimized models and the remaining error with respect to the experimental data was evaluated. Results The parameter identification procedure led to minor model adjustments but considerably reduced the error in the predicted fingertip forces (root mean square error reduced from 0.53/0.69 N to 0.11/0.20 N for the human/bonobo model). Both models remained physiologically plausible after the parameter identification. In the combined loading scenario, fingertip and net metacarpal forces were predicted with average directional errors below 6° and magnitude errors below 12%. Conclusions This study presents the first attempt to implement both a human and non-human primate finger model for comparative palaeoanthropological studies. The good agreement between predicted and experimental forces involving the action of extrinsic flexors—which are most relevant for forceful grasping—shows that the models are likely sufficiently accurate for comparisons of internal loads occurring during human and non-human primate manual activities.https://peerj.com/articles/7470.pdfMusculoskeletal modelFingerHumanBonoboOptimizationMetacarpal |
| spellingShingle | Alexander Synek Szu-Ching Lu Evie E. Vereecke Sandra Nauwelaerts Tracy L. Kivell Dieter H. Pahr Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments PeerJ Musculoskeletal model Finger Human Bonobo Optimization Metacarpal |
| title | Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments |
| title_full | Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments |
| title_fullStr | Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments |
| title_short | Musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger: parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments |
| title_sort | musculoskeletal models of a human and bonobo finger parameter identification and comparison to in vitro experiments |
| topic | Musculoskeletal model Finger Human Bonobo Optimization Metacarpal |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/7470.pdf |
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