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Related Concept Videos

Bone Remodeling01:40

Bone Remodeling

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Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
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Bone tissue forms the internal skeleton of vertebrate animals, providing structure to the body.
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Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during...
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All bones comprise an outer layer of compact bone, and an interior made up of spongy bone tissue, also called cancellous or trabecular bone. In long bones, spongy bone tissue is mainly found in the interior of the epiphyses (broad ends of the bone).
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The two main features of a long bone are the diaphysis and the epiphysis.
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Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales Atractosteus spatula Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM
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Alligator osteoderms: mechanical behavior and hierarchical structure.

Irene H Chen1, Wen Yang1, Marc A Meyers2

  • 1Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

Materials Science & Engineering. C, Materials for Biological Applications
|January 14, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Alligator osteoderms, or bony scutes, offer robust protection and aid thermoregulation. Their unique structure, featuring hydroxyapatite and collagen, provides exceptional toughness against predator attacks.

Keywords:
AlligatorMechanical propertiesMechanismsOsteodermsScutes

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Area of Science:

  • Paleoproteomics
  • Biomaterials Science
  • Vertebrate Paleontology

Background:

  • Osteoderms are dermal armor in alligators (Archosauria: Crocodylia), providing protection and thermoregulation.
  • These bony scutes are composed of hydroxyapatite, possess a porosity of ~12%, and are linked by fibrous connective tissue.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural properties and toughening mechanisms of alligator osteoderms.
  • To understand how osteoderm morphology contributes to their protective functions.

Main Methods:

  • Computerized tomography (CT) to visualize pore patterns.
  • Micro-indentation and compression testing to assess mechanical properties.
  • Analysis of damage progression to identify toughening mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Osteoderms exhibit a disc-like morphology with a central keel and radial pore patterns.
  • Mechanical testing revealed the axial direction as the strongest (UTS ~67 MPa) and toughest (11 MJ/m³).
  • Toughening mechanisms include pore flattening, microcrack initiation, and collagen-mediated crack growth inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • Alligator osteoderms possess a complex structure optimized for protection and toughness.
  • Collagen is crucial for osteoderm plasticity and crack resistance, enhancing their defensive capabilities.