Development, validation, and application of ligamentous cervical spinal segment C6-C7 of a six-year-old child and an adult.

•High quality cervical spinal segment C6-C7 FE models of a six-year-old child and an adult were developed.•These two models were comprehensively verified under flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending conditions.•The differences in the responses of C6-C7 between the child and adult were comparatively investigated.•The comparisons in the responses of C6-C7 under the loading types of flexion, extension, and lateral bending were analyzed.