Abstract:

This report describes the design, data structure, and applicability of a refined finite-element template for the human tongue and connected oral structures. The finite-element model relies mainly on data sets from the Visible Human Project of the National Library of Medicine. The model is composed of macroblocks, which represent geometric subsections of the tongue. These blocks represent, in some cases, either individually or in combination, functional subsections, such as individual muscles. For each macroblock (or geometric region) a finite-element mesh can be generated such that the whole of the tongue can be modeled by a mesh of finite-elements, since the subdivision is compatible across block boundaries. The finite element template contains information about muscle tissue distribution of the tongue and velopharynx. Approximate muscle fiber directions are represented as direction fields. The model can be adapted to individual morphology if a set of morphological landmarks can be specified from measurements such as those from MRI data of an individual.