Head Markers
LAH RAH
Head
Left Anterior Head Right Anterior Head
Place the markers on the left and right side of the fore head. The respective location is shown in the Skeleton figure.
LPH RPH
Head
Left Posterior head Right Posterior head
Place the markers on the left and right side of the head about 2 cm behind the ear. The respective location is shown in the Skeleton figure.
Torso Markers
SJN (IJ[1])
Thorax
Sternum Jugular Notch
Top most section of the sternum. Place the marker on the center of the two clavicle bones.
SXS (PX[1])
Thorax
Sternum Xiphoid Process
Lowest section of the sternum. Place the marker 1-2 cm above where bottom of the two rib cages conjoin.
CV7 (C7[1])
Thorax
Cervical Spine Vertebra 7
The 7th cervical spine vertebra is the largest vertebra located at the most inferior region of the neck. This section usually protrudes to the posterior side and can be palpated.
TV2 (T2[1])
Thorax
Thoracic Spine Vertebra 2
The second thoracic spine vertebra is located three spine levels below the C7 vertebra. Which is located approximately at same height with shoulder joint markers.
TV7 (T7[1])
Thorax
Thoracic Spine Vertebra 7
Usually located at the center of the thoracic spinal column.
LHGT RHGT
Upper Arm / Shoulder
Left Glenohumeral Joint Right Glenohumeral Joint
Place the marker on the posterior side of the shoulder axis. Ask the subject to posture in T-pose while placing the markers.
Waist Markers
Pelvis
Left Iliac Anterior Spine Right Iliac Anterior Spine
Place the marker on the protruding bones located on the left and right side of the pelvis front.
Note that the waist markers are the key markers in modeling the pelvis bone, which is the major segment governing the other subsequent Skeleton segments.
Upper Extremity Markers
Thorax
Left Clavicle-Acromion Joint Right Clavicle-Acromion Joint
Ask the subject to stretch both arms towards the side (T-pose), then palpate top of each shoulder for the protruding bone. The prominence is usually located at the end of the corresponding clavicle bone just before where the upper arm starts.
LHLE RHLE
Upper Arm
Left Humerus Lateral Epicondyle Right Humerus Lateral Epicondyle
Placed the markers on the lateral side of the elbow axis. Flex and extend the arm few times to find where elbow axis is located.
LHME* RHME*
Upper Arm
Left Humerus Medial Epicondyle Right Humerus Medial Epicondyle
Place on the medial side of the elbow axis. Ask the subject to flex and extend the arm while placing the markers.
LUA RUA
Upper Arm
Left Upper Arm Right Upper Arm
Ask the subject to stand in T-pose while placing the marker. Palpate to find the groove between the triceps muscles where skin movements are relatively minimal.
Hand Markers
LHM2 RHM2
Hand
Left Hand Second metatarsal Right Hand Second metatarsal
Place the marker slight below the knuckle of the index finger.
LUSP RUSP
Hand
Left Ulna Styloid Process Right Ulna Styloid Process
Place the marker on the lateral side of the wrist axis.
LRSP RRSP
Hand
Left Radius Styloid Process Right Radius Styloid Process
Place the marker on the medial side of the wrist axis.
For best results, place the three hand markers so the created shape is asymmetrical (avoid isosceles shape) and unique from the marker arrangements on the other hand. Since the wrist markers have defined placement — along the wrist axis — introduce small amount of positional offset to the LHM2 and RHM2 markers.
Lower Extremity Markers
Pelvis
Left Femoral greater Trochanter Right Femoral greater Trochanter
Place the markers on left and right side of the hip, where you can palpate the hip joint or the most lateral prominence of the greater trochanter.
Upper Leg
Left Femur Lateral Epicondyle Right Femur Lateral Epicondyle
Place the marker on the lateral prominence of the knee joint axis. More specifically, the marker should be placed on the femur epicondyle. You may need to ask the subject to flex and extend the knee few times to locate the axis.
Upper Leg
Left Femur Medial Epicondyle Right Femur Medial Epicondyle
Place the marker on the Medial prominence of the knee joint axis. Ask the subject to flex and extend the knee few times to locate the knee axis.
LTH RTH
Upper Leg
Left Thigh Right Thigh
Place the markers at the front center of the thigh near the midline. This marker is placed for distinguishing left and right side of the Skeleton. For best results, slightly offset the height of right and left marker to introduce an asymmetry.
LSK RSK
Upper Leg
Left Superior Knee Right Superior Knee
Place the markers on the shin bone near the midline of the lower leg. This marker is placed for distinguishing left and right side of the Skeleton. For best results, slightly offset the height of right and left marker to introduce an asymmetry.
Lower Leg
Left Tibial Tubercle Right Tibial Tubercle
Place the marker about 2-3 cm below the knee cap bone. This marker should be placed on the most anterior point of the tibial tuberosity.
The joint center of the knee and the ankle is modeled at the midpoint of the lateral and medial joint markers (FLE/FME and FAL/TAM). Assuming that center of the femoral head aligns with the center of the acetabulum, its virtual location is modeled using markers on the pelvis segment (posterior and anterior iliac spine markers). The lower extremity segments are modeled along these three virtual locations.
Foot Markers
LFAL(LM[2]) RFAL
Lower Leg/Foot
Left Fibula Ankle Lateral Right Fibula Ankle Lateral
Place the maker on the lateral side of the ankle axis; on the lateral prominence of the lateral malleolus bone.
Lower Leg/Foot
Left Talus Ankle Medial Right Talus Ankle Medial
Place the maker on the medial side of the ankle axis; on the medial prominence of the medial malleolus bone
LFM5(VM[2]) RFM5
Foot
Left Foot Fifth Metatarsal Right Foot Fifth Metatarsal
Place the marker on the dorsal aspect of the fifth metatarsal bone.
LFM2* (SM[2]) RFM2*
Foot
Left Foot Second Metatarsal Right Foot Second Metatarsal
Place the marker on the dorsal aspect of the second metatarsal bone.
LFM1 (FM[2]) RFM1
Foot
Left Foot First Metatarsal Right Foot First Metatarsal
Place the marker on the dorsal aspect of the first metatarsal bone.
LFCC (CA[2]) RFCC
Foot
Left Foot Calcaneus Right Foot Calcaneus
Place the marker on center of the heel, where the Achilles tendon attaches to the calcneous bone.
LDP1 RDP1
Toes
Left First Distal Phalanx Right First Distal Phalanx
Place the marker near the end of the big toe. More specifically, the marker should be placed at the distal end of the first phalanges.
Leardini, A., Biagi, F., Merlo, A., Belvedere, C., Benedetti, M.G., 2011. Multi-segment trunk kinematics during locomotion and elementary exercises. Clin. Biomech. 26, 562-571.
Leardini, A., Sawacha, Z., Paolini, G., Ingrosso, S., Nativo, R., Benedetti, M.G., 2007. A new anatomically based protocol for gait analysis in children. Gait Posture 26. 560-571.
