Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Washington, District of Columbia
Understanding the functional role of morphological structures is fundamental to biomechanics and integrative biology. Often our knowledge of morphological function is based on first principles from careful morphological study because manipulative experiments are impractical. Digital modeling technologies, such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), can provide alternative methods for determining a structure’s mechanical performance and function. Here I applied three-dimensional modeling and FEA to investigate the function of the insect tentorium, an internal cuticular scaffold of the insect head that provides an origin for many mouthpart muscles. I tested the hypothesis that the tentorium also provides structural support for the head during mandible use by modeling the stress and strain on the head cuticle of two ant species: trap-jaw ants and leaf-cutting ants. I compared FE models of fully intact heads and models where the tentorium had been digitally dissected. Results from this study provide a promising example of how imaging and modeling tools can answer otherwise intractable morphological questions.
