Three-dimensional finite element modelling of skeletal muscles: Parameter identification, simulation and verification

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As most muscles are tightly packed in ‘muscle-packages’, they have to interact with surrounding muscle tissue during contraction. In order to gain a deeper understanding of muscle packing under the premise of force generation and contraction velocity, it is necessary to study the architecture, the three-dimensional deformation and the power development of muscle packages.Based on this question, the main goal of this project throughout the entire funding phase is the development of a three-dimensional muscle model that allows realistic predictions of force development and three-dimensional deformation during muscle contractions. This was already achieved for the soleus muscle (SOL) of the rabbit. In this final funding phase, the developed model will also be transferred to other calf muscles of the rabbit (gastrocnemius muscle: GAS, plantaris muscle: PLA), which will ultimately be merged into a muscle package model (SOL, GAS, PLA).Thus, the goal of this final phase, which completes the overall project, is the additional acquisition of geometry data (aponeurosis localisation, three-dimensional fibre distributions) whose necessity has been proven due to the impact of muscle packing on muscle architecture. Further, open work from the previous funding phase for the characterisation of the material properties of GAS and PLA as well as for data evaluation and model validation shall be completed. Due to time-consuming and sometimes unexpected working steps (which were necessary for the processing of the application), this was not possible in the previously funded project period. Hence, there are extensive, experimental, three-dimensional muscle surface data during contraction for the GAS and the entire muscle package that still need to be evaluated.The data collected in this last funding phase will be incorporated into a three-dimensional model describing the muscle package. Thus, for the first time, a muscle package model is available, which enables the handling of selected questions on the function and the design of muscles, muscle packages and body segments.