  A 3D biomechanical dynamical model of human tongue is presented, which is
elaborated to test in the future hypotheses about speech motor control. Tissue
elastic properties are accounted for in Finite Element Modelling (FEM). The FEM
mesh was designed in order to facilitate implementation of muscle arrangement
in the tongue. Therefore, its structure was determined on the basis of accurate
anatomical data. Mechanically, the hypothesis of hyperelasticity was adopted.
Muscles are modelled as general force generators that act on anatomically
specified sets of nodes of the FEM structure. Simulations, using ANSYS
software, of the influence of muscle activations onto the tongue shape are
presented.
