The biomechanics of the human tongue

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dc.contributor.advisorReddy, B Den_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKajee, Yaseenen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-31T11:21:21Z
dc.date.available2014-07-31T11:21:21Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes abstract.
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 137-148).
dc.description.abstractThe human tongue is composed mainly of skeletal-muscle tissue, and has a complex architecture. Its anatomy is characterised by interweaving, yet distinct muscle groups. It is a significant contributor to the phenomenon of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a pathological condition defined as the partial or complete closing of any part of the human upper airway (HUA) during sleep. OSA syndrome affects a significant portion of the population. Patients with OSA syndrome experience various respiratory problems, an increase in the risk of heart disease, a significant decrease in productivity, and an increase in motor-vehicle accidents [58]. The aim of this work is to report on a constitutive model for the human tongue, and to demonstrate its use in computational simulations for OSA. A realistic model of the constitution of the tongue and computational simulations are also important in areas such as linguistics and speech therapy [44]. The detailed anatomical features of the tongue have been captured using data from the Visible Human Project (VHP) [102]. The geometry of the tongue, and each muscle group of the tongue, are visually identified, and its geometry captured using Mimics [100]. Various image processing tools available in Mimics, such as image segmentation, region-growing and volume generation were used to form the three-dimensional model of the tongue geometry. Muscle fibre orientations were extracted from the same dataset, also using Mimics.The muscle model presented here is based on Hill’s three-element model for representation of the constituent parts of muscle fibres. This Hill-type muscle model also draws from recent work in muscle modelling, by Martins [88]. The model is implemented in an Abaqus user element (UEL) subroutine [24]. The transversely isotropic behaviour of the muscle tissue is accounted for, as well as the influence of muscle activation. The mechanics of the model is limited to static, small-strain, anisotropic, linear-elastic behaviour, and the governing equations are suitably linearized. The body position of the patient during an apneic episode is accounted for in the simulations, as well as the effect of gravity. The focus of this study is on tongue muscle behaviour under gravitational loading, simulating a simplified OSA event. Future models will incorporate airway pressure as well. The behaviour of the model is illustrated in a number of benchmark tests, and computational examples.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationKajee, Y. (2010). <i>The biomechanics of the human tongue</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5525en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKajee, Yaseen. <i>"The biomechanics of the human tongue."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5525en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKajee, Y. 2010. The biomechanics of the human tongue. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Kajee, Yaseen AB - The human tongue is composed mainly of skeletal-muscle tissue, and has a complex architecture. Its anatomy is characterised by interweaving, yet distinct muscle groups. It is a significant contributor to the phenomenon of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a pathological condition defined as the partial or complete closing of any part of the human upper airway (HUA) during sleep. OSA syndrome affects a significant portion of the population. Patients with OSA syndrome experience various respiratory problems, an increase in the risk of heart disease, a significant decrease in productivity, and an increase in motor-vehicle accidents [58]. The aim of this work is to report on a constitutive model for the human tongue, and to demonstrate its use in computational simulations for OSA. A realistic model of the constitution of the tongue and computational simulations are also important in areas such as linguistics and speech therapy [44]. The detailed anatomical features of the tongue have been captured using data from the Visible Human Project (VHP) [102]. The geometry of the tongue, and each muscle group of the tongue, are visually identified, and its geometry captured using Mimics [100]. Various image processing tools available in Mimics, such as image segmentation, region-growing and volume generation were used to form the three-dimensional model of the tongue geometry. Muscle fibre orientations were extracted from the same dataset, also using Mimics.The muscle model presented here is based on Hill’s three-element model for representation of the constituent parts of muscle fibres. This Hill-type muscle model also draws from recent work in muscle modelling, by Martins [88]. The model is implemented in an Abaqus user element (UEL) subroutine [24]. The transversely isotropic behaviour of the muscle tissue is accounted for, as well as the influence of muscle activation. The mechanics of the model is limited to static, small-strain, anisotropic, linear-elastic behaviour, and the governing equations are suitably linearized. The body position of the patient during an apneic episode is accounted for in the simulations, as well as the effect of gravity. The focus of this study is on tongue muscle behaviour under gravitational loading, simulating a simplified OSA event. Future models will incorporate airway pressure as well. The behaviour of the model is illustrated in a number of benchmark tests, and computational examples. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - The biomechanics of the human tongue TI - The biomechanics of the human tongue UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5525 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/5525
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKajee Y. The biomechanics of the human tongue. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2010 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5525en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Mechanical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherMechanical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleThe biomechanics of the human tongueen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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