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Related Concept Videos

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification01:29

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...
Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification01:24

Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification

Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
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General Structure of a Vertebra

A typical vertebra, with the exception of the sacrum and coccyx, consists of a body, a vertebral arch, and seven different projections termed processes. The anterior portion of the vertebrae, the body, supports about half the body’s weight. The vertebral bodies progressively increase in size and thickness from the cervical region to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The intervertebral discs present between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae firmly unites them, forming a continuous column.

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Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation
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Vertebrate skeletogenesis.

Véronique Lefebvre1, Pallavi Bhattaram

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Current Topics in Developmental Biology
|August 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Skeletogenesis is how vertebrates build their skeletons from bone and cartilage. This review details gene regulation, cell development, and signaling pathways controlling skeletal formation and diseases caused by genetic mutations.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Vertebrate skeletal development is a complex process involving over 200 bones and cartilage pieces.
  • The skeleton provides structural support, protection, mineral storage, and facilitates movement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of vertebrate skeletogenesis for both experts and non-experts.
  • To explain the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying skeletal formation.
  • To discuss the genetic basis of skeletal malformations and degenerations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on skeletogenesis.
  • Analysis of gene expression patterns and regulatory networks.
  • Examination of signaling pathways and transcription factors involved in skeletal development.

Main Results:

  • Skeletogenesis involves the generation and specification of multipotent mesenchymal cells.
  • Specific and ubiquitous genes, along with signaling pathways and transcription factors, control cell fate, proliferation, and differentiation.
  • Mutations in regulatory genes lead to various skeletal malformation and degeneration diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding skeletogenesis requires deciphering intricate regulatory networks.
  • Studying skeletal diseases provides insights into normal development.
  • Future research should focus on filling knowledge gaps to advance skeletal biology and regenerative medicine.