Finite Element Modeling of the Human Lumbar Spine

Finite element (FE) numerical simulation is an effective tool for analyzing phenomena that cannot be clarified by experimental methods, like most of the biomechanical processes, for example the age-related spinal degeneration processes. Moreover, numerical simulation techniques have the potential to reduce costs and to save time during the development of new effective spinal treatment methods or implants. Consequently, there is a need to obtain more and more realistic and correct numerical models for the very complicated structure, the human spine. In this chapter the FE modeling aspects of the most frequented spinal part, the lumbar spine is presented. After giving a short overview of the anatomy of the lumbar spine, biomechanical effects, loads, internal forces and movements are detailed. Then the three steps of FE modeling procedure, the geometric, material and element/mesh type modeling is discussed, followed by the validation of the complete FE model. Finally, an example for FE numerical simulation closes the chapter.