Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (29): 6167-6163.doi: 10.12307/2025.796

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Three-dimensional model of swallowing musculoskeletal system based on CT image data and biomechanical characteristics analysis

Fang Dandan1, Ma Ruijie2, Huang Yi3, He Kelin2, Wu Lei2   

  1. 1Zhebei Branch of Affiliated Third Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Wuxing District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Huzhou 313002, Zhejiang Province, China; 2Affiliated Third Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, Zhejiang Province, China; 3Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang Province, China
  • Received:2024-09-10 Accepted:2024-11-12 Online:2025-10-18 Published:2025-03-01
  • Contact: Wu Lei, MD, Associate chief physician, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, Zhejiang Province, China
  • About author:Fang Dandan, MS, Physician, Zhebei Branch of Affiliated Third Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Wuxing District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Huzhou 313002, Zhejiang Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Zhejiang Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Plan Project, No. 2022ZB198 (to WL); Special Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization Project of Zhejiang Province, No. 2020ZX011 (to MRJ); Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Plan Project of Zhejiang Province, No. 2025ZX232 (to FDD)  

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Abstract: BACKGROUND: At present, there are many clinical studies on dysphagia, but little is known about the stress of bones and hyoid muscles caused by dysphagia. 
OBJECTIVE: To establish a three-dimensional model of swallowing musculoskeletal system to investigate the stress changes of hyoid and suprahyoid muscles during swallowing.
METHODS: A healthy adult male was selected for head and neck CT scanning. A three-dimensional model was constructed by image extraction method. According to hyoid motion, the lowest and highest positions of hyoid were set, and the muscle strength of suprahyoid muscles was successively loaded to observe the stress influence of suprahyoid muscles on hyoid under physiological state. By changing the material properties of muscles, we simulated different degrees of dysphagia and observed the stress changes of suprahyoid muscle group under the condition of dysphagia.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The finite element models including C2-C4 vertebrae, partial temporal bone, mandible, hyoid, and mylohyoid-geniohyoid muscle were established, which could reflect the displacement of hyoid and stress changes during swallowing. (2) Under physiological conditions, among suprahyoid muscles, mylohyoid muscle had the greatest influence on hyoid stress, followed by digastric muscle, geniohyoid muscle, and stylohyoid muscle. (3) By simulating different degrees of dysphagia, it was found that with the increase of the severity of dysphagia, the stress of suprahyoid muscles gradually increased. (4) These findings conclude that among suprahyoid muscles, mylohyoid muscle and digastric muscle have the greatest influence on hyoid stress, which suggests the importance of specific muscle stimulation. The aggravation of dysphagia was positively correlated with the stress change of suprahyoid muscles, which could provide a biomechanical reference for the mechanism study and clinical diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia.

Key words: hyoid, suprahyoid muscles, dysphagia, biomechanics, finite element, engineered bone tissue 

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