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Comparing the distribution of strains with the distribution of bone tissue in a human mandible: a finite element study (2012)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Fagan, M., & O'Higgins, P. (2013). Comparing the distribution of strains with the distribution of bone tissue in a human mandible: a finite element study. Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology, 296(1), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.22597

Comparative anatomy and experimental studies suggest that the mass and distribution of tissue within a bone is adapted to the strains the bone experiences during function. Finite element analysis is a powerful tool that can be used to investigate thi... Read More about Comparing the distribution of strains with the distribution of bone tissue in a human mandible: a finite element study.

Masticatory loadings and cranial deformation in Macaca fascicularis: a finite element analysis sensitivity study (2012)
Journal Article
Fitton, L. C., Shi, J. F., Fagan, M. J., & O'Higgins, P. (2012). Masticatory loadings and cranial deformation in Macaca fascicularis: a finite element analysis sensitivity study. Journal of anatomy, 221(1), 55-68. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01516.x

Biomechanical analyses are commonly conducted to investigate how craniofacial form relates to function, particularly in relation to dietary adaptations. However, in the absence of corresponding muscle activation patterns, incomplete muscle data recor... Read More about Masticatory loadings and cranial deformation in Macaca fascicularis: a finite element analysis sensitivity study.

Developing a musculoskeletal model of the primate skull: Predicting muscle activations, bite force, and joint reaction forces using multibody dynamics analysis and advanced optimisation methods (2012)
Journal Article
Shi, J., Curtis, N., Fitton, L. C., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2012). Developing a musculoskeletal model of the primate skull: Predicting muscle activations, bite force, and joint reaction forces using multibody dynamics analysis and advanced optimisation methods. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 310, 21-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.06.006

An accurate, dynamic, functional model of the skull that can be used to predict muscle forces, bite forces, and joint reaction forces would have many uses across a broad range of disciplines. One major issue however with musculoskeletal analyses is t... Read More about Developing a musculoskeletal model of the primate skull: Predicting muscle activations, bite force, and joint reaction forces using multibody dynamics analysis and advanced optimisation methods.

Shearing Mechanics and the Influence of a Flexible Symphysis During Oral Food Processing in Sphenodon (Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia) (2012)
Journal Article
Jones, M. E. H., Evans, S. E., Curtis, N., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2012). Shearing Mechanics and the Influence of a Flexible Symphysis During Oral Food Processing in Sphenodon (Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia). Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology, 295(7), 1075-1091. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.22487

Functional evolution of the feeding system in rodents (2012)
Journal Article
Cox, P. G., Rayfield, E. J., Fagan, M. J., Herrel, A., Pataky, T. C., & Jeffery, N. (2012). Functional evolution of the feeding system in rodents. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e36299. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0036299

The masticatory musculature of rodents has evolved to enable both gnawing at the incisors and chewing at the molars. In particular, the masseter muscle is highly specialised, having extended anteriorly to originate from the rostrum. All living rodent... Read More about Functional evolution of the feeding system in rodents.

Modeling the human mandible under masticatory loads: which input variables are important? (2012)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Fagan, M., & O'higgins, P. (2012). Modeling the human mandible under masticatory loads: which input variables are important?. Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology, 295(5), 853-863. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.22455

Finite element analyses (FEA) that have simulated masticatory loadings of the human mandible differ significantly with regard to their basic input variables such as material properties, constraints, and applied forces. With sensitivity analyses it is... Read More about Modeling the human mandible under masticatory loads: which input variables are important?.

Comment on "The effects of modelling simplifications on craniofacial finite element models: the alveoli (tooth sockets) and periodontal ligaments" (volume 44, issue 10, pages 1831-1838) (2012)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., & Fagan, M. (2012). Comment on "The effects of modelling simplifications on craniofacial finite element models: the alveoli (tooth sockets) and periodontal ligaments" (volume 44, issue 10, pages 1831-1838). Journal of biomechanics, 45(9), 1749-1750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.10.042

Hard tissue anatomy of the cranial joints in Sphenodon (Rhynchocephalia): Sutures, kinesis, and skull mechanics (2011)
Journal Article
(2011). Hard tissue anatomy of the cranial joints in Sphenodon (Rhynchocephalia): Sutures, kinesis, and skull mechanics. Palaeontologia electronica (Online), 14(2), 33604

The anatomy of the extant lepidosaur Sphenodon (New Zealand tuatara) has been extensively examined by palaeontologists and comparative anatomists because of its phylogenetic status as the only living member of the Rhynchocephalia. It is also of inter... Read More about Hard tissue anatomy of the cranial joints in Sphenodon (Rhynchocephalia): Sutures, kinesis, and skull mechanics.

The head and neck muscles associated with feeding in sphenodon (Reptilia: Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia) (2011)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E., Junfen, S., O'Higgins, P., Evans, S. E., & Fagan, M. (2011). The head and neck muscles associated with feeding in sphenodon (Reptilia: Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia). Palaeontologia electronica, 12(2), 0 - 0. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0029804

Feeding in Sphenodon, the tuatara of New Zealand, is of interest for several reasons. First, the modern animal is threatened by extinction, and some populations are in competition for food with Pacific rats. Second, Sphenodon demonstrates a feeding a... Read More about The head and neck muscles associated with feeding in sphenodon (Reptilia: Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia).

Functional relationship between skull form and feeding mechanics in Sphenodon, and implications for diapsid skull development (2011)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E. H., Shi, J., O'Higgins, P., Evans, S. E., & Fagan, M. J. (2011). Functional relationship between skull form and feeding mechanics in Sphenodon, and implications for diapsid skull development. PLoS ONE, 6(12), Article ARTN e29804. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0029804

The vertebrate skull evolved to protect the brain and sense organs, but with the appearance of jaws and associated forces there was a remarkable structural diversification. This suggests that the evolution of skull form may be linked to these forces,... Read More about Functional relationship between skull form and feeding mechanics in Sphenodon, and implications for diapsid skull development.

The earliest evidence for anatomically modern humans in northwestern Europe (2011)
Journal Article
Higham, T., Compton, T., Stringer, C., Jacobi, R., Shapiro, B., Trinkaus, E., …Fagan, M. (2011). The earliest evidence for anatomically modern humans in northwestern Europe. Nature, 479(7374), 521-524. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10484

The earliest anatomically modern humans in Europe are thought to have appeared around 43,000-42,000 calendar years before present (43-42 kyr cal BP), by association with Aurignacian sites and lithic assemblages assumed to have been made by modern hum... Read More about The earliest evidence for anatomically modern humans in northwestern Europe.

Finite element modelling of squirrel, guinea pig and rat skulls: using geometric morphometrics to assess sensitivity. (2011)
Journal Article
Cox, P. G., Fagan, M. J., Rayfield, E. J., & Jeffery, N. (2011). Finite element modelling of squirrel, guinea pig and rat skulls: using geometric morphometrics to assess sensitivity. Journal of anatomy, 219(6), 696-709. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01436.x

Rodents are defined by a uniquely specialized dentition and a highly complex arrangement of jaw-closing muscles. Finite element analysis (FEA) is an ideal technique to investigate the biomechanical implications of these specializations, but it is ess... Read More about Finite element modelling of squirrel, guinea pig and rat skulls: using geometric morphometrics to assess sensitivity..

The Mechanical Significance of the Temporal Fasciae in Macaca fascicularis: An Investigation Using Finite Element Analysis (2011)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Witzel, U., Fitton, L., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. (2011). The Mechanical Significance of the Temporal Fasciae in Macaca fascicularis: An Investigation Using Finite Element Analysis. Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology, 294(7), 1178-1190. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.21415

Computational finite element analyses (FEAs) of the skull predict structural deformations under user specified loads and constraints, with results normally presented as stress and strain distributions over the skull's surface. The applied loads are g... Read More about The Mechanical Significance of the Temporal Fasciae in Macaca fascicularis: An Investigation Using Finite Element Analysis.

The application of muscle wrapping to voxel-based finite element models of skeletal structures (2011)
Journal Article
Liu, J., Shi, J., Fitton, L. C., Phillips, R., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2012). The application of muscle wrapping to voxel-based finite element models of skeletal structures. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, 11(1-2), 35-47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-011-0291-5

Finite elements analysis (FEA) is now used routinely to interpret skeletal form in terms of function in both medical and biological applications. To produce accurate predictions from FEA models, it is essential that the loading due to muscle action i... Read More about The application of muscle wrapping to voxel-based finite element models of skeletal structures.

The effects of the periodontal ligament on mandibular stiffness: a study combining finite element analysis and geometric morphometrics (2011)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Fagan, M. J., & O'Higgins, P. (2011). The effects of the periodontal ligament on mandibular stiffness: a study combining finite element analysis and geometric morphometrics. Journal of biomechanics, 44(7), 1304-1312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.01.008

It is generally accepted that the periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a crucial role in transferring occlusal forces from the teeth to the alveolar bone. Studies using finite element analysis (FEA) have helped to better understand this role and show tha... Read More about The effects of the periodontal ligament on mandibular stiffness: a study combining finite element analysis and geometric morphometrics.

Why do humans have chins? Testing the mechanical significance of modern human symphyseal morphology with finite element analysis (2010)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Liu, J., Fagan, M. J., & O'Higgins, P. (2011). Why do humans have chins? Testing the mechanical significance of modern human symphyseal morphology with finite element analysis. American journal of physical anthropology, 144(4), 593-606. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21447

The modern human mandibular symphysis differs from those of all other primates in being vertically orientated and possessing a chin, but the functional significance of this unique morphology is not well understood. Some hypotheses propose that it is... Read More about Why do humans have chins? Testing the mechanical significance of modern human symphyseal morphology with finite element analysis.

Combining geometric morphometrics and functional simulation: an emerging toolkit for virtual functional analyses (2010)
Journal Article
O'Higgins, P., Cobb, S. N., Fitton, L. C., Gröning, F., Phillips, R., Liu, J., & Fagan, M. J. (2011). Combining geometric morphometrics and functional simulation: an emerging toolkit for virtual functional analyses. Journal of anatomy, 218(1), 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01301.x

The development of virtual methods for anatomical reconstruction and functional simulation of skeletal structures offers great promise in evolutionary and ontogenetic investigations of form-function relationships. Key developments reviewed here inclu... Read More about Combining geometric morphometrics and functional simulation: an emerging toolkit for virtual functional analyses.

Feedback control from the jaw joints during biting: An investigation of the reptile Sphenodon using multibody modelling (2010)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E. H., Evans, S., Evans, S. E., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2010). Feedback control from the jaw joints during biting: An investigation of the reptile Sphenodon using multibody modelling. Journal of biomechanics, 43(16), 3132-3137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.08.001

Sphenodon, a lizard-like reptile, is the only living representative of a group that was once widespread at the time of the dinosaurs. Unique jaw mechanics incorporate crushing and shearing motions to breakdown food, but during this process excessive... Read More about Feedback control from the jaw joints during biting: An investigation of the reptile Sphenodon using multibody modelling.