Computer simulation of human foot models can be widely used in areas such as surgery simulation, footwear design, gait analysis, etc. Nevertheless, due to the complexity in the modeling of human foot, not much work in the modeling and simulating of human foot model has been reported. In this thesis, we propose an anatomy-based approach for modeling and animating human foot. The anatomical model is divided into layers including skin, muscle, tendon and skeleton. In order to generate animation of the foot model, foot bone structure is transformed according to the foot motions. This induces the deformation of the muscle, tendon and consequently the skin layer. Physics-based approaches are adopted to deform the muscles and tendons. / In this thesis, we adopt the boundary element method (BEM) with linear boundary elements to model deformation of the muscles. Under our investigation, computing the deformation of models with linear boundary elements of BEM is significantly faster than the BEM with constant boundary elements. It also performs better than the finite element method (FEM) under most circumstances. The role of the tendons on determining deformation of the skin layer is also presented. To allow fast deformation, the axial deformation technique is adopted. Using the axial deformation technique, the shape of the axial curve is adjusted to control the deformation of tendon. Two approaches for updating the axial curve are presented. One approach deforms the axial curve of the tendon using geometric technique based on information from image data. Another approach updates the axial curve based on physical properties of the tendon using the mass-spring system. Each vertex of the skin layer is associated with the underlying muscles, tendons and skeleton. When the underlying muscle, tendon and skeleton layers change their shapes, the skin layer is deformed accordingly. Experimental results illustrated that the visual realism of a foot model is enhanced by considering the changes in foot tendons in the deformation of skin layer. / Tang, Yuk Ming. / "January 2007." / Adviser: Kin-Chuen Hui. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-08, Section: B, page: 5372. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-194). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.