Consider the position of the head and the neck shown below. Also shown are the forces acting on the head. The head weights W=50 N and its center of gravity is located at C. Fu is the magnitude of the resultant force exerted by the neck extensor muscles, which is applied on the skull at A. The atlantooccipital joint is located at B. For this flexed position of the head, the line of action of the neck muscle force makes an angle of 30 degrees and the line of action of the joint reaction force makes an angle of 60 degrees with the horizontal. Draw a free body diagram for the head. What tension must the neck extensor muscles exert to support the head? What is the force applied on the first cervical vertebra at the atlantooccipital joint?




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Consider the position of the head and the neck shown below. Also shown are the forces acting on the head. The head weights W=50 N and its center of gravity is located at C. Fu is the magnitude of the resultant force exerted by the neck extensor muscles, which is applied on the skull at A. The atlantooccipital joint is located at B. For this flexed position of the head, the line of action of the neck muscle force makes an angle of 30 degrees and the line of action of the joint reaction force makes an angle of 60 degrees with the horizontal. Draw a free body diagram for the head. What tension must the neck extensor muscles exert to support the head? What is the force applied on the first cervical vertebra at the atlantooccipital joint?


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