Predicting calvarial growth in normal and craniosynostotic mice using a computational approach (2017)
Journal Article
Marghoub, A., Libby, J., Babbs, C., Pauws, E., Fagan, M. J., & Moazen, M. (2018). Predicting calvarial growth in normal and craniosynostotic mice using a computational approach. Journal of anatomy, 232(3), 440-448. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12764

© 2017 Anatomical Society During postnatal calvarial growth the brain grows gradually and the overlying bones and sutures accommodate that growth until the later juvenile stages. The whole process is coordinated through a complex series of biological... Read More about Predicting calvarial growth in normal and craniosynostotic mice using a computational approach.

Application of Far Cortical Locking Technology in Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture Fixation: A Biomechanical Study (2016)
Journal Article
Moazen, M., Leonidou, A., Pagkalos, J., Marghoub, A., Fagan, M. J., & Tsiridis, E. (2016). Application of Far Cortical Locking Technology in Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture Fixation: A Biomechanical Study. Journal of Arthroplasty, 31(8), 1849-1856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2016.02.013

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. Background Lack of fracture movement could be a potential cause of periprosthetic femoral fracture (PFF) fixation failures. This study aimed to test whether the use of distal far cortical locking screws reduces the overall stiffn... Read More about Application of Far Cortical Locking Technology in Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture Fixation: A Biomechanical Study.

Intracranial pressure changes during mouse development (2015)
Journal Article
Moazen, M., Alazmani, A., Rafferty, K., Liu, Z., Gustafson, J., Cunningham, M. L., …Herring, S. W. (2016). Intracranial pressure changes during mouse development. Journal of biomechanics, 49(1), 123-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.11.012

During early stages of postnatal development, pressure from the growing brain as well as cerebrospinal fluid, i.e. intracranial pressure (ICP), load the calvarial bones. It is likely that such loading contributes to the peripheral bone formation at t... Read More about Intracranial pressure changes during mouse development.

Validity and sensitivity of a human cranial finite element model: Implications for comparative studies of biting performance (2015)
Journal Article
Toro-Ibacache, V., Fitton, L. C., Fagan, M. J., & O'Higgins, P. (2016). Validity and sensitivity of a human cranial finite element model: Implications for comparative studies of biting performance. Journal of anatomy, 228(1), 70-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12384

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a modelling technique increasingly used in anatomical studies investigating skeletal form and function. In the case of the cranium this approach has been applied to both living and fossil taxa to (for example) investi... Read More about Validity and sensitivity of a human cranial finite element model: Implications for comparative studies of biting performance.

Mechanical properties of calvarial bones in a mouse model for craniosynostosis (2015)
Journal Article
Moazen, M., Peskett, E., Babbs, C., Pauws, E., & Fagan, M. J. (2015). Mechanical properties of calvarial bones in a mouse model for craniosynostosis. PLoS ONE, 10(5), e0125757. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125757

The mammalian cranial vault largely consists of five flat bones that are joined together along their edges by soft fibrous tissues called sutures. Premature closure of the cranial sutures, craniosynostosis, can lead to serious clinical pathology unle... Read More about Mechanical properties of calvarial bones in a mouse model for craniosynostosis.

Masticatory biomechanics in the rabbit: a multi-body dynamics analysis (2014)
Journal Article
Watson, P. J., Gröning, F., Curtis, N., Fitton, L. C., Herrel, A., McCormack, S. W., & Fagan, M. J. (2014). Masticatory biomechanics in the rabbit: a multi-body dynamics analysis. Journal of the Royal Society interface / the Royal Society, 11(99), Article 20140564. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2014.0564

Multi-body dynamics is a powerful engineering tool which is becoming increasingly popular for the simulation and analysis of skull biomechanics. This paper presents the first application of multi-body dynamics to analyse the biomechanics of the rabbi... Read More about Masticatory biomechanics in the rabbit: a multi-body dynamics analysis.

Development and three-dimensional morphology of the zygomaticotemporal suture in primate skulls (2014)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Witzel, U., & Fagan, M. J. (2014). Development and three-dimensional morphology of the zygomaticotemporal suture in primate skulls. Folia primatologica, 85(2), 77-87. https://doi.org/10.1159/000357526

Cranial sutures are an essential part of the growing skull, allowing bones to increase in size during growth, with their morphology widely believed to be dictated by the forces and displacements that they experience. The zygomaticotemporal suture in... Read More about Development and three-dimensional morphology of the zygomaticotemporal suture in primate skulls.

Erratum: Cranial sutures work collectively to distribute strain throughout the reptile skull (Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2013) 10 (2013044) DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2013.0442) (2013)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E., Evans, S. E., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2013). Erratum: Cranial sutures work collectively to distribute strain throughout the reptile skull (Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2013) 10 (2013044) DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2013.0442). Journal of the Royal Society interface / the Royal Society, 10(87), Article 2013044. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2013.0584

Figure 4 was presented incorrectly, with (a) and (b) displaying the same bite position. The corrected figure below shows different bite positions for (a) and (b) as was initially intended.

The importance of accurate muscle modelling for biomechanical analyses: A case study with a lizard skull (2013)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Jones, M. E., Curtis, N., Herrel, A., O'Higgins, P., Evans, S. E., & Fagan, M. J. (2013). The importance of accurate muscle modelling for biomechanical analyses: A case study with a lizard skull. Journal of the Royal Society interface / the Royal Society, 10(84), Article 20130216. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2013.0216

Computer-based simulation techniques such as multi-body dynamics analysis are becoming increasingly popular in the field of skull mechanics. Multi-body models can be used for studying the relationships between skull architecture, muscle morphology an... Read More about The importance of accurate muscle modelling for biomechanical analyses: A case study with a lizard skull.

Cranial sutures work collectively to distribute strain throughout the reptile skull (2013)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Fagan, M. J., Evans, S. E., Jones, M. E. H., & O'Higgins, P. (2013). Cranial sutures work collectively to distribute strain throughout the reptile skull. Journal of the Royal Society interface / the Royal Society, 10(86), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2013.0442

The skull is composed of many bones that come together at sutures. These sutures are important sites of growth, and as growth ceases some become fused while others remain patent. Their mechanical behaviour and how they interact with changing form and... Read More about Cranial sutures work collectively to distribute strain throughout the reptile skull.

The Head and Neck Anatomy of Sea Turtles (Cryptodira: Chelonioidea) and Skull Shape in Testudines (2012)
Journal Article
Jones, M. E., Werneburg, I., Curtis, N., Penrose, R., O'Higgins, P., Fagan, M. J., & Evans, S. E. (2012). The Head and Neck Anatomy of Sea Turtles (Cryptodira: Chelonioidea) and Skull Shape in Testudines. PLoS ONE, 7(11), Article e47852. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047852

Background: Sea turtles (Chelonoidea) are a charismatic group of marine reptiles that occupy a range of important ecological roles. However, the diversity and evolution of their feeding anatomy remain incompletely known. Methodology/Principal Finding... Read More about The Head and Neck Anatomy of Sea Turtles (Cryptodira: Chelonioidea) and Skull Shape in Testudines.

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

Virtual functional morphology: novel approaches to the study of craniofacial form and function (2012)
Journal Article
O'Higgins, P., Fitton, L. C., Phillips, R., Shi, J., Liu, J., Gröning, F., …Fagan, M. (2012). Virtual functional morphology: novel approaches to the study of craniofacial form and function. Evolutionary Biology, 39(4), 521-535. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-012-9173-8

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 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).

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.

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.