Anatomical Frames of Reference and Biomechanics
Segment axes systems for simulations have been defined by the inertial tensor unique to each simulated body segment. When empirical three-dimensional data are sought that describe either the mass distribution or the kinematic properties of the human body, anatomical frames of reference are needed for the sake of measurement methodology and data comparability. Anatomical axes systems are based on anatomical landmarks that must represent functional and stable features in the skeletal geometry. This presentation will, therefore, discuss the role of anthropometric landmarks used in defining anatomical coordinate axes systems, and results using present preliminary anatomical frames of reference in a kinematic study of the human hip joint in a research program sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Contract #F49620-78-C-0012).