Membranous bone
Os membranaceum
- Synonym: Membrane bone
- Related terms: Membranous part
Definition
A membranous bone (membrane bone) refers to bone formed through intramembranous ossification, a direct bone formation process without a cartilage intermediary, primarily seen in flat bones like those of the skull and clavicle.
It should not be confused with the membranous part of the bone that corresponds to the periosteum.
The membranous bone is formed through a process called intramembranous ossification. Unlike endochondral ossification, which involves a cartilage precursor, intramembranous ossification occurs directly within a mesenchymal tissue without a cartilage stage. During intramembranous ossification, mesenchymal cells differentiate directly into osteoblasts, which then begin to secrete osteoid. The osteoid subsequently mineralizes to form bone.
References
1.Induction and Patterning of Intramembranous Bone.Franz-Odendaal TA.Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition). 2011;16(7):2734-46. doi:10.2741/3882.
2.An Investigation of Cellular Dynamics During the Development of Intramembranous Bones: The Scleral Ossicles.Jabalee J, Hillier S, Franz-Odendaal TA.Journal of Anatomy. 2013;223(4):311-20. doi:10.1111/joa.12095.
3.Bone Development.Berendsen AD, Olsen BR.Bone. 2015;80:14-18. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2015.04.035.
