Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Magnetic resonance imaging-based relationships between neck muscle cross-sectional area and neck circumference for adults and children

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Computer models and human surrogates used to study the forces and motion of the human neck under various loading conditions are based solely on adult data. Pediatric computer models and dummy surrogates used to improve the safety of children could be improved with the inclusion of previously unavailable pediatric muscle data.

Methods

Measurements of neck circumference and neck muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) were taken from ten 50th percentile adult male and ten 10-year old male volunteer subjects. Muscle cross-sectional areas were calculated from magnetic resonance images of axial cross-sections of the neck.

Results

Neck muscle cross-sectional area was calculated for six muscles/muscle groups. A power-law regression analysis was used to describe the relationship between neck circumference and neck muscle cross-sectional area.

Conclusions

The cross-sectional area and the power-law functions determined by the data in this study provide a means of calculating muscle cross-sectional area for young children, where such data are currently unavailable. This will provide an opportunity to develop more representative pediatric neck models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Borst J, Forbes PA, Hapee R, Veeger DJ (2011) Muscle parameters for musculoskeletal modelling of the human neck. Clin Biomech. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2010.11.019

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brown RL, Brunn MA, Garcia VF (2001) Cervical Spine injuries in children: a review of 103 patients treated consecutively at a level 1 pediatric trauma center. J Pediatr Surg 36(8):1107–1114

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cagnie B, Barbe T, Vandemaele P, Achten E, Cambier D, Danneels L (2009) MRI analysis of muscle/fat index of the superficial and deep neck muscles in an asymptomatic cohort. Eur Spine J 18(5):704–709

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cirak B, Ziegfeld S, Knight VM, Chang D, Avellino AM, Paidas CN (2004)Spinal injuries in children. J Pediatr Surg 39(4):607–612

    Google Scholar 

  5. Choi H, Vanderby R (2000) Muscle forces and spinal loads at C4/5 level during isometric voluntary efforts. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:830–838

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. De Loose V, Van den Oord M, Keser I, Burnotte F, Van Tiggelen D, Dumary A, Cagnie B, Witvrouw E, Danneels L (2009) MRI study of the morphometry of the cervical musculature in F-16 pilots. Aviat Space Environ Med 80:727–731

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Givens TG, Polley KA, Smith CF, Hardin WD Jr (1996) Pediatric cervical spine injury: a three year experience. J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care 41(2):310–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Knapik JJ, Staab JS, Harman EA (1996) Validity of an anthropometric estimate of thigh muscle cross-sectional area. Med Sci Sports Exerc 28(12):1523–1530

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kokoschka ER, Keller MS, Rallo MC, Weber TR (2001) Characteristics of pediatric cervical spine injuries. J Pediatr Surg 36(1):100–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kumerasan S, Yoganandan N, Pintar F (2001) Pediatric neck injury scale factors and tolerance. Biomed Sci Instrum 37:435–440

    Google Scholar 

  11. McCall T, Fassett D, Brockmeyer D (2006) Cervical spine trauma in children: a review. Neurosurg Focus 20(2):E5

    Google Scholar 

  12. McDowell MA, Fryar CD, Hirsch R, Ogden CL (2005) Anthropometric reference data for children and adults: US population, 1999–2002. National Heath and Statistics Report, US Department of Health and Human Services, No. 361

  13. Miller HJ (2003) Verification of the child crash test dummy neck response using magnetic resonance imaging and physiologic muscle stress. PhD Dissertation, Wayne State University

  14. Moroney SP, Schultz AB, Miller JA (1988) Analysis and measurement of neck loads. J Orthop Res 6(5):713–720

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Okada E, Matsumoto M, Ichihara D, Chiba K, Toyama Y, Fujiwara H, Momoshima S, Nishiwaki Y, Takahata T (2011) Cross-sectional area of posterior extensor muscles of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects: a 10-year longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study. Eur Spine J 20(9):1567–1573

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Oksanen A, Erkintalo M, Metsahonkala L, Anttila P, Laimi K, Hiekkanen H, Salminen J, Aromaa M, Sillanpää M (2008) Neck muscle cross-sectional area in adolescents with and without headache—MRI study. Eur J Pain 12:952–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Stemper BD, Baidsen JL, Yognanadan N, Pintar FA, Pakoff GR, Shender BS (2010) Determination of normative neck muscle morphometry using upright MRI with comparison to supine data. Aviat Space Environ Med 81:878–882

    Google Scholar 

  18. Van Ee CA, Nightingale RW, Camacho DLA, Chancey VC, Knaub KE, Sun EA, Myers BS (2000) Tensile properties of the human muscular and ligamentous cervical spine. In: Proceedings from the 44th Stapp Car Crash Conference, 2000-01-SC07

  19. Vasavada AN, Li S, Delp SL (1998) Influence of muscle morphometry and moment arms on the moment-generating capacity of human neck muscles. Spine 23:412–422

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zuckerbraun BS, Morrison K, Gaines B, Ford HR, Hackam DJ (2004) Effects of age on cervical spine injuries in children after motor vehicle collisions: effectiveness of restraint devices. J Pediatr Surg 39(3):483–486

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded in part by a Wayne State University Rumble Scholarship, a Ford Fellowship Scholarship and through support from the Detroit Medical Center and the Wayne State University BioEngineering Center.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, 818W. Hancock, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Renée M. Dawson & John M. Cavanaugh

  2. Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Zahid Latif

  3. Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    E. Mark Haacke

Authors
  1. Renée M. Dawson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zahid Latif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Mark Haacke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John M. Cavanaugh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Renée M. Dawson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dawson, R.M., Latif, Z., Haacke, E.M. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging-based relationships between neck muscle cross-sectional area and neck circumference for adults and children. Eur Spine J 22, 446–452 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2482-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2482-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation