Detection of Ligament Insertion Points

The cervical spine supports the weight of the head and protects the spinal cord, a collection of nerves that runs through the spinal canal from the base of the brain to the lower back in the nerve canal. In addition, the cervical spine is highly flexible and allows the head to turn and flex in all directions.

The cervical spine is build by vertebrae, which are separated by intervertebral discs. Furthermore, different muscles and ligaments are involved in the holding together of the vertebrae in the column and in the cervical spine movement.

In order to build up a patientspecific simulation model all spinal structures have to be taken in to account. With such a patientspecific model the load situation in the spine can be analysed.

Therefore, the aim of this project is to develop a new application for the ligament insertion points detection and to evaluate it using established metrics. With the help of this computer-based approach the exact location of the insertion points of the ligaments can be found and the coordinates of this points can  be transferred to a simulation model.