Patterns of local and regional variation in ribcage anatomy

摘要

Standard medical chest and abdomen computed tomography (CT) scans were used to take detailed measurements of human rib geometry and material properties from a wide range of patients. Geometric quantities included rib cross-sectional area, height, width, and aspect ratio. Material-based quantities included rib cross-sectional average density, and measurements of inner and outer cortical bone thickness and cortical bone density. We found significant local and regional variation both within and between individuals. Proposals are made for the use of these measurements to inform and improve human finite element chest models, allowing them to more accurately represent the human ribcage.