Endochondral bone
Os endochondrale
- Synonym: Cartilaginous bone
Definition
An endochondral bone is a type of bone formed by endochondral ossification. It is is characterized by its trabecular (spongy) and cortical (compact) structures
The endochondral ossification involves the replacement of a cartilage template with bone tissue. It is the primary mechanism by which the axial skeleton (including ribs and vertebrae) and the appendicular skeleton (such as the bones of the limbs) develop.
During endochondral ossification, mesenchymal cells first differentiate into chondrocytes, which form a cartilaginous model of the future bone. This cartilage model then undergoes a series of changes: the chondrocytes mature and hypertrophy, the extracellular matrix becomes mineralized, and blood vessels invade the area. Subsequently, the cartilage is resorbed and replaced by bone tissue formed by osteoblasts.[1-3]
References
1.Bone Tissue and Histological and Molecular Events During Development of the Long Bones.Blumer MJF.Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : Official Organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft. 2021;235:151704. doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151704.
2.Making and Shaping Endochondral and Intramembranous Bones.Galea GL, Zein MR, Allen S, Francis-West P.Developmental Dynamics : An Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 2021;250(3):414-449. doi:10.1002/dvdy.278.
3.Development of the Endochondral Skeleton.Long F, Ornitz DM.Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 2013;5(1):a008334. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a008334.
