Definition of reference frames on human skeleton

Abstract

In our modeling study of the human cardiovascular system, some forms of subject motion or posture, e.g., those experienced or assumed by a fighter pilot, can not be neglected in considering the overall system dynamics. This investigation aims at establishing a set of reference frames on the human skeleton which are based on the observations and measurements taken on four skeleton systems. These frames are coupled together at the articulation positions to form a base of operation of 3-D translation and rotation. The coupling at a specified reference position was verified against the proportional measurements taken from X-ray films, CAT scan films, atlases and two human cadavers. A program was written to perform the forementioned transformations on the frames coupled at the reference position such that any posture can be achieved as long as the necessary angular anthropometric measurements are provided. If a set of angular profiles at a]l involved joints are given, the human motion can be mathematically animated to a certain degree of accuracy appropriate for specified computer simulation studies. Under this definition, any major segment of our cardiovascular system model can be specified in terms of spatial position and orientation.