The Vertebrate Analyzer

Research Project screen captures and captions

	Dr. Frank Mendel holding the Smilodon cast from which our digital CT images (and subsequent 3D reconstructions) were attained.
	Smilodon fossil - mandible.
	Smilodon fossil - skull.
	CT-reconstructed 3D isosurface of the Smilodon mandible.
	CT-reconstructed 3D isosurface of the Smilodon skull.
	Combined skull-mandible isosurface reconstruction.
Visually appealing “fill shaded” rendering of the Smilodon, within our Vertebrate Analyzer toolkit.

More practical “vertex based” model, which allows for faster rendering, and allows for precise screen picking of (simplified) muscle/ligament end point locations.

“Vertex-based” screenshot depicting the muscle attachment feature of the Vertebrate Analyzer. One muscle is shown – it is identified with red-colored end points, and note that the associated descriptive text (displaying information pertaining to structure and geometry) is also shown in Red.

This (and the next) screenshot depicts 2 of the visual cues that are used within the Vertebrate Analyzer – color and size. Specifically, the attached muscle is shown green, which, like a traffic light, indicates that it is “safe” (i.e. within its allowable limits for stretch capacity). The band is also thin/slender – which indicates that it is in tension.

Here, the attachment is shown to be red, which, like a traffic light, indicates “unsafe” – it is approaching, and very near, its allowable limit for stretch. Due to the stubby, thick nature of the band, one can easily see that the muscle is in compression.