Described herein is a finite element model of the human head-neck complex that is used to simulate the dynamics of the head and neck subjected to low and high lateral deceleration. The model which is intended to be used as part of an entire human body model consists of a rigid skull, the bony vertebrae modelled by shell elements, intervertebral discs modelled by solid elements and the most relevant muscles and ligaments modelled by membrane and spring-damper elements. Acceleration responses of the head obtained from experimental volunteer sled tests are used to validate the model for low g-level lateral deceleration. Additionally the corresponding results of the severest cadaber sled test are compared against the predicted response of the model subjected to high g-level acceleration. It is shown that this finite element model fulfils the requirements to be part of a finite element model of the entire human body regarding caliculation time, stability and accuracy of the results.