Three‐dimensional finite element analysis of the dural folds and the human skull under head acceleration

Abstract

Bone and collagen fiber architecture adapt to external mechanical loads. In humans, due to the low insertion of the temporal muscle, mastication does not lead to a physiological loading of the calvaria. Forces applied to the skull by the dural folds can lead to compressive stresses in the calvaria. To investigate the relationship between mechanical loads and form in the skull and its membranes, in a finite element three‐dimensional model of the human skull, loads due to head acceleration in daily activities are applied to the falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli. The dural folds are modeled as membranes. The stress paths in the dural folds correlate with anatomical fiber direction. Head accelerations of 9 g lead to compressive stress in the calvaria. Finite element analysis of the falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli can be used to study the influence of mechanical stresses on the ossification of the dural folds and their impact on calvarial growth. This study presents an example of functional loading of bone by fibrous membranes and describes a possible mechanism by which Wolff's law works on the bone of the calvaria creating evolutionarily beneficial lightweight constructions.

Analysis of relationship between loading condition and cranial cracking pattern using a three-dimensional finite element model

“…To date, however, most FE studies have focused on the brain instead of cranial fractures because the brain is one of the most important vital organs. Therefore, stress propagation in the brain has been investigated using FE analysis of the head including the skull and the brain [6,7]. FE analysis is also useful to analyze stress concentration or the propagation of stress waves along the skull.…”