Flora Gröning

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• PhD FHEA
• Senior Lecturer at University of Aberdeen

Alveolar bone remodelling is vital for the success of dental implants and orthodontic treatments. However, the underlying biomechanical mechanisms, in particular the function of the periodontal ligament (PDL) in bone loading and remodelling, are not well understood. The PDL is a soft fibrous connective tissue that joins the tooth root to the alveol...

Augmented Reality (AR) applied to surgical guidance is gaining relevance in clinical practice. AR-based image overlay surgery (i.e. the accurate overlay of patient-specific virtual images onto the body surface) helps surgeons to transfer image data produced during the planning of the surgery (e.g. the correct resection margins of tissue flaps) to t...

Cranial morphology in lepidosaurs is highly disparate and characterized by the frequent loss or reduction of bony elements. In varanids and geckos, the loss of the postorbital bar is associated with changes in skull shape, but the mechanical principles underlying this variation remain poorly understood. Here, we seek to determine how the overall cr...

Emerging holographic headsets can be used to register patient-specific virtual models obtained from medical scans with the patient’s body. Maximising accuracy of the virtual models’ inclination angle and position (ideally, ≤ 2° and ≤ 2 mm, respectively, as in currently approved navigation systems) is vital for this application to be useful. This st...

Although a functional relationship between bone structure and mastication has been shown in some regions of the rabbit skull, the biomechanics of the whole cranium during mastication have yet to be fully explored. In terms of cranial biomechanics, the rabbit is a particularly interesting species due to its uniquely fenestrated rostrum, the mechanic...

Novel augmented reality headsets such as HoloLens can be used to overlay patient-specific virtual models of resection margins on the patient’s skin, providing surgeons with information not normally available in the operating room. For this to be useful, surgeons wearing the headset must be able to localise virtual models accurately. We measured the...

Modern anatomy education has benefitted from the development of a wide range of digital 3D resources in the past decades, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked an additional demand for high-quality online learning resources. Photogrammetry provides a low-cost technique for departments to create their own photo-realistic 3D models of c...

Cranial sutures are fibrocellular joints between the skull bones that are progressively replaced with bone throughout ontogeny, facilitating growth and cranial shape change. This transition from soft tissue to bone is reflected in the biomechanical properties of the craniofacial complex. However, the mechanical significance of cranial sutures has o...

The crania of leporid lagomorphs are uniquely fenestrated, including the posterior cranial bones and the lateral portion of the maxilla. The posterior fenestrations have been linked to locomotion; however, the functional significance of the highly fenestrated rostrum has received considerably less attention and the mechanical function is still deba...

Introduction Microsoft HoloLens® is an augmented-reality headset which is increasingly used for surgical guidance. This headset allows the overlay of patient-specific virtual models obtained from medical images onto the patient’s body surface using automatic marker-based alignment. This can guide surgeons during certain surgical tasks, e.g. determi...

The chondrocranium is the cartilage component of the vertebrate braincase. Among jawed vertebrates it varies greatly in structure, mineralisation, and in the extent to which it is replaced by bone during development. In mammals, birds, and some bony fish, most of the chondrocranium is replaced by bone whereas in lizards, amphibians, and chondrichth...

Photogrammetry is an upcoming technology in biomedical science as it provides a non-invasive and cost-effective alternative to established 3D imaging techniques such as computed tomography. This review introduces the photogrammetry approaches currently used for digital 3D reconstruction in biomedi-cal science and discusses their suitability for dif...

The falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli are two projections of the dura mater in the cranial cavity which ossify to varying degrees in some mammalian species. The idea that the ossification of these structures may be necessary to support the loads arising during feeding has been proposed and dismissed in the past, but never tested quantitative...

The falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli are two membranous projections of the dura mater in the cranial cavity which are ossified to varying degrees in certain mammalian species. The hypothesis that ossification of these structures may be necessary to support the loads arising during feeding has been the subject of debate, but never assessed q...

Alveolar bone, together with the underlying trabecular bone, fulfils an important role in providing structural support against masticatory forces. Diseases such as osteoporosis or periodontitis cause alveolar bone resorption which weakens this structural support and is a major cause of tooth loss. However, the functional relationship between alveol...

The role of soft tissues in skull biomechanics remains poorly understood. Not least, the chondrocranium, the portion of the braincase which persists as cartilage with varying degrees of mineralization. It also remains commonplace to overlook the biomechanical role of sutures despite evidence that they alter strain distribution. Here, we examine the...

Additional buccolingual orthodontic load results. (DOCX)

Additional mesiodistal orthodontic results. (DOCX)

Material properties and optimisation. (DOCX)

Additional occlusal load results. (DOCX)

The lizard species Salvator 'Tupinambis' merianae and Varanus ornatus evolved independently in South America and Africa but share similar ecology and feeding behaviour, despite having notable differences in their skull structure. Tupinambis has a compact, relatively short and wide snout, whereas that of Varanus is more slender and narrow. In additi...

The lizard species Salvator ‘ Tupinambis ’ merianae and Varanus ornatus evolved independently in South America and Africa but share similar ecology and feeding behaviour, despite having notable differences in their skull structure. Tupinambis has a compact, relatively short and wide snout, whereas that of Varanus is more slender and narrow. In addi...

Neolithic and Mesolithic human remains from the 9th and 4th millennium are rare for the area of the mid-range mountains (Sauerland) of Westphalia and elsewhere. The discovery of human remains in the cave site Blätterhöhle at Hagen in 2004 changed that picture. Available radiocarbon dates are between 9200 and 8600, and 3900 and 3000 cal BC and revea...

Multi-body dynamics is a powerful engineering tool which is becoming increasingly popular for the simulation and analysis of skull biomechanics. This paper presents the first application of multi-body dynamics to analyse the biomechanics of the rabbit skull. A model has been constructed through the combination of manual dissection and three-dimensi...

Orthodontic tooth movement occurs as a result of resorption and formation of the alveolar bone due to an applied load, but the stimulus responsible for triggering orthodontic tooth movement remains the subject of debate. It has been suggested that the periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a key role. However, the mechanical function of the PDL in orthod...

Computer-based simulation techniques such as multi-body dynamics analysis are becoming increasingly popular in the field of skull mechanics. Multi-body models can be used for studying the relationships between skull architecture, muscle morphology and feeding performance. However, to be confident in the modelling results, models need to be validate...

Comparative anatomy and experimental studies suggest that the mass and distribution of tissue within a bone is adapted to the strains the bone experiences during function. Finite element analysis is a powerful tool that can be used to investigate this since it allows the creation of hypothetical models with unadapted morphology. Here we use FE mode...

Comparative anatomy and experimental studies suggest that the mass and distribution of tissue within a bone is adapted to the strains the bone experiences during function. Finite element analysis is a powerful tool that can be used to investigate this since it allows the creation of hypothetical models with unadapted morphology. Here we use FE mode...

Recent developments in simulating musculoskeletal functioning in the craniofacial complex using multibody dynamic analysis and finite elements analysis enable comprehensive virtual investigations into musculoskeletal form and function. Because the growth of the craniofacial skeleton is strongly influenced by mechanical functioning, these methods ha...

Finite element analyses (FEA) that have simulated masticatory loadings of the human mandible differ significantly with regard to their basic input variables such as material properties, constraints, and applied forces. With sensitivity analyses it is possible to assess how the choice of different input values and the degree of model simplification...

The techniques used to validate finite element (FE) models against experimental results have changed little during the last decades, even though the traditional approach of using single point measurements from strain gauges has major limitations: the strain distribution across the surface is not captured and the accurate determination of strain gau...

The earliest anatomically modern humans in Europe are thought to have appeared around 43,000-42,000 calendar years before present (43-42 kyr cal BP), by association with Aurignacian sites and lithic assemblages assumed to have been made by modern humans rather than by Neanderthals. However, the actual physical evidence for modern humans is extremel...

It has been repeatedly suggested that mammalian cranial sutures act not only to allow growth but also to reduce the levels of strain experienced by the skull during feeding. However, because of the added complexity they introduce, sutures are rarely included in finite element (FE) models, despite their potential to influence strain results. Because...

The modern human mandibular symphysis differs from those of all other primates in being vertically orientated and possessing a chin, but the functional significance of this unique morphology is not well understood. Some hypotheses propose that it is an adaptation to specific loads occurring during masticatory function. This study uses finite elemen...

It is generally accepted that the periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a crucial role in transferring occlusal forces from the teeth to the alveolar bone. Studies using finite element analysis (FEA) have helped to better understand this role and show that the stresses and strains in the alveolar bone are influenced by whether and how PDL is included in...

The development of virtual methods for anatomical reconstruction and functional simulation of skeletal structures offers great promise in evolutionary and ontogenetic investigations of form-function relationships. Key developments reviewed here include geometric morphometric methods for the analysis and visualization of variations in form (size and...

Finite element analysis is a powerful tool for predicting the mechanical behaviour of complex biological structures like bones, but to be confident in the results of an analysis, the model should be validated against experimental data. In such validation experiments, the strains in the loaded bones are usually measured with strain gauges glued to t...

The site Blätterhöhle in Hagen was discovered during a spelaeological exploration in 2004. The cave itself was almost completely filled with sediments. The excavations brought human skeletons of at least seven individuals, animal bones and stone tools to light. A trial trench next to the entrance resulted in the discovery of a find layer dating to...

The site Blätterhöhle in Hagen was discovered during a spelaeological exploration in 2004. The cave itself was almost completely filled with sediments. The excavations brought human skeletons of at least seven individuals, animal bones and stone tools to light. A trial trench next to the entrance resulted in the discovery of a find layer dating to...

The EU-funded project »TNT - The Neanderthal Tools« aimed to collect all information about Neanderthals in an interactive database. The result was the set-up of the scientific online database NESPOS (Neanderthal Studies Professional Online Service). This platform is the first worldwide accessible internet service for palaeoanthropologists and archa...

The application of new computer-based techniques like computed tomography and 3D image processing provides new possibilities for the reconstruction of fragmentary skeletal remains. In contrast to conventional methods, these techniques are non-invasive and thus non-destructive. In this article, the virtual reconstruction of a Late Neolithic cranium...

The EU-funded project »TNT - The Neanderthal Tools« aimed to collect all information about Neanderthals in an interactive database. The result was the set-up of the scientific online database NESPOS (Neanderthal Studies Professional Online Service). This platform is the first worldwide accessible internet service for palaeoanthropologists and archa...

Neanderthal Museum, Germany TNT – THE NEANDERTHAL TOOLS is a combined research and demonstration project, which is funded within the DigiCULT programme of the European Commission. The project aims to improve the access to the cultural heritage of Neanderthals for researchers and the broad public. The scientific core of TNT is the creation of NESPOS...

This paper provides the first endocranial description of the matrix-filled archaic Homo sapiens cranium from Eliye Springs, Kenya. Using CT-based 3D reconstruction, the virtually cleaned endocranial surface allowed for the assessment of more than 30 metrical and nonmetrical features, most of which are considered of phylogenetic importance. The VOXE...