BIO 337  Lecture Part 2

Skeletal System

 

 

 

 

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

 

Function: Support and Movement

 

Most functionally active tissues are epithelial or “soft” tissues, such as muscle, nervous

 

…but if organism was composed entirely of this, it would be a “blob”

 

Therefore, the need for supporting tissue.

 

Three basic types:

 

       1.  Notochord

        2.  Connective Tissue

        3.  Skeletal (or Sclerotized) Tissue

 

1.  Notochord

 

Vacuolated cells surrounded by a fibrous sheath, forming a firm cylindrical support structure.

  

2. Connective Tissue

 

a. Loose or Areolar (adipose, mucous,                          

         embryonal)

 

Relatively open arrangement of cells and fibers

 

        Three fiber types may be present:

i.      Collagenous (collagen)

                        ii. Elastic (elastin)

                       iii. Reticular (collagen)

 

b.       Compact

 

Fewer cells, more fibers (Elastic or 

       Collagenous)

The mix of fibers depends on the need for flexibility

 

i.      Irregular or Interwoven

 

Withstands stress from multiple directions

 

Fascia, organ capsules, periosteum, perichondrium, perimysium, dura mater

 

              ii. Regular or parallel

 

                    Withstands stress from one direction

 

                     Tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses

 

3.  Skeletal (= Sclerotized) Tissue

 

Requirements of sclerotized tissue:

 

A .Scleroblasts (most from mesodermal            

                 mesenchyme

 

           Chondroblasts         à          Chondrocytes

           Osteoblasts              à          Osteocytes

           Ameloblasts             à          Amelocytes

           Odontoblasts*          à          Odontocytes

 

*from Neural Crest

 

    b. Organic matrix (Fibroproteins, Protein-

    polysaccharides,Phospholipids )

 

    c.  Inorganic Matrix (Mineral salts)

 

    d.  Vascular supply

 

 

A.      Cartilage

 

Basic structure:  Chondroblasts within lacunae lay down matrix of chondromucoprotein and various fibers. Chondroblasts mature into chondrocytes.

 

Types:

 

 1. Hyaline (“glassy”) – Embryos, trachea, diarthroses, 

              costal cartilages, elasmobranch skeleton.

 

         2.  Elastic (more flexible, elastin fibers) – Pinnae,   

               epiglottis, nasal cartilages.

 

3.     Fibrocartilage (abundance of collagen fibers)

        –Intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis.

 

B.     Bone

 

Dominant skeletal material of most adult vertebrates

 

            Basic structure: Similar to cartilage. Chondroblast in lacunae lay down matrix of minerals and fibers.  Primary matrix constituent is hydroxyapatite. 

 

        Departure from cartilage: vascular supply with lacunar connections via canaliculi.

  

 

Histologically, two types of bone:

 

Primary Vascular Bone -------------- Primary Vascular Bone

       (embryo)                                               (adult)

                                                                          :

                                                                          :

                                                                          :

                                                      Secondary Osteonal Bone

                                                       (Haversian Bone)

 

The transition from Primary Vascular Bone to Secondary Osteonal (=Haversian) Bone:

 

    In developing bone:  Ridges and grooves on the bone’s surface contain blood vessels and osteoblasts build up around these vessels laying down matrix as this occurs.  Eventually, the vessels become completely encircled and the concentric deposition of matrix converts the tunnel into a typical Haversian canal.

 

     In bone remodeling: Osteoclasts erode a groove in outer region of bone.  As groove deepens, blood vessels from periosteum invade area.  Bone is converted to tunnel as osteoblasts lay down matrix.  Successive layers (lamellae) form the osteon.

 

  

Bone Development

 

Three modes of development:

 

1. Membrane, or Dermal Bone (intramembranous).

 

    Abundant in fishes

    Restricted to the skull in tetrapods

 

2. Endochondral or Replacement Bone

 

     Bone begins as cartilaginous template or model.

 

    3. Heterotopic or Heteroplastic bone

 

         Bone forms in fully differentiated tissue

 

            Sesamoid bones (including patella)

              Baculum (os penis) of mice, squirrels, mink, bats

              Os Cordis of many ruminants

              Pessulus within the avian syrinx

 

Bone density varies

 

            Spongy or cancellous bone

            Dense or compact bone

            Flat bones of the skull:

                    Inner table, Outer table, Diploe

 

The Bone-Bone Interface

 

            Joints and Articulations

 

Diarthrosis (=moveable)

 

    Articular cartilage surrounded by synovial capsule

 

Amphiarthrosis (=partially moveable)

 

    Intervertebral joints, interosseus membrane

 

Synarthrosis (=immoveable)

 

    Sutures (skull bones), Symphyses (pubic, mandibular)

 

Ankylosis (=fusion)

 

    Complete fusion of adult bones: maxillary,

     premaxillary, sacrum, innominate

 

VERTEBRATE SKELETAL ELEMENTS

 

I.                Dermal Skeleton

 

Bony plates and scales, developed in skin

Never preformed in cartilage

From mesoderm

  

II.           Endoskeleton

 

Elements preformed in cartilage

May remain cartilaginous

 

Two Divisions:

 

A.    Visceral Skeleton

 

Lies between and operate gill openings and structures derived from these (jaws, ear ossicles)

From Neural Crest

 

B.    Somatic Skeleton

 

All remaining internal skeletal elements

From mesoderm

 

1.Axial Skeleton

 

                            Most of skull

                            Most of vertebrae

                            Ribs and sternum

 

                 2. Appendicular skeleton

 

                            Pectoral girdle (most)

                            Pelvic girdle

                            Limbs, fins (incl. Median)

 

Some adult elements are derived from 2 or more categories:

 

    Shoulder = dermal + somatic endoskeleton

    Lower jaw = dermal + visceral endoskeleton

    Skull = dermal + visceral & somatic endoskeleton

 

THE AXIAL SKELETON - THE VERTEBRATE SKULL

 

That part of the axial skeleton that

1)   encloses the brain

2)   houses the organs of special sense

3)   forms structures intimately involved with feeding and gas exchange.

 

The Cranium is a fusion of 3 major parts:

 

1)   NEUROCRANIUM (=CHONDROCRANIUM)

 

“Primary Braincase”…..from mesoderm

  

    2)  DERMATOCRANIUM

 

            “Palatal Complex”

            “Dermal Shield”

                    ……..from mesoderm

 

3)  SPLANCHNOCRANIUM

 

“Visceral Skeleton”….from Neural Crest

 

THE NEUROCRANIUM

 

Forms the majority of endochondral, replacement bones of the skull. 

 

Development proceeds as cartilaginous elements associated with the notochord are stimulated by epidermal placodes adjacent to the organs of special sense.

 

The neurocranium grows to surround the sensory capsules, and in most vertebrates, ossification follows.

 

Neurocranium elements:

 

Occiptial Condyles

   

   One in Fish, Reptiles, & Birds (from basioccipital)

    Two in Amphibia, Mammals (from exoccipital)

  

DERMATOCRANIUM  -  PALATAL     

           COMPLEX

 

Dermal bones that form the roof of the mouth, surrounding the internal nares.

Not present in cartilaginous fishes.

 

Dermatocranium – Palatal Complex elements:

 

Evolution of the Secondary palate

 

DERMATOCRANIUM  -  DERMAL SHIELD

 

 

A shield of membrane (=dermal) bone over the top and sides of the head, broken only by external nares, orbits and parietal foramen.

 

Dermatocranium – Dermal Shield elements:

 

Cranial Summary:

 

    Dermatocranium is absent in the cartilaginous fishes

 

    Tetrapods show a progressive reduction in skull

           Elements

 

 

    The Dermal Shield becomes perforated by temporal

           fenestrae in many tetrapods…Adaptive  

           significance:

1.     Reduction in mass

2.     Muscular expansion

3.     Increased surface area for muscle origin

 

  THE SPLANCHNOCRANIUM  - VISCERAL 

        SKELETON

 

Derived from Neural Crest

Contributes to the jaws

 

In gnathostome fishes, gill support becomes more complex compared to the agnathans, primarily to enhance ventilatory efficiency.

 

The anterior-most branchial elements contribute to the phylogeny of the vertebrate jaws. Two theories:

 

1.   Serial Theory

2.   Composite Theory

 

Vertebrate Jaw suspension and the fate of the Visceral

           Arches:

 

Cranial Kinesis

 

       Movement of one part of the skull relative to another

 

Weberian Ossicles

               Sound transmission in fishes…Not homologous with the middle ear ossicles

 

NonCranial derivatives of the Visceral Skeleton

 

Hyoid Apparatus (Arch II, with parts from others)

 

Laryngeal skeleton (Arches III+) thyroid, Cricoid,

        Arytenoid cartilages

 

Tracheal rings, Epiglottis (Arches III+)

 

THE AXIAL SKELETON – VERTEBRAE

 

Typical structure of Vertebrae

 

    Primitive Condition

    General Features of fish vertebrae

    General Features of tetrapod vertebrae

 

Development of the Vertebrae

 

    Derived from the sclerotome and chordamesoderm

    Three developmental courses for centrum:

 

1.      Acentrous: No centrum forms

 

Lamprey, Hagfish, Chondrostei, Sturgeon

 

 

2.      Chordal and Perichordal  Centers: Notochordal sheath ossifies…or

         chondrifies.

 

            Many fishes, bony and cartilaginous, amphibian

 

3.      Autocenters:  Perichordal mesenchyme units to ossify around chordal center

 

Amniotes

Here, the contribution of various developmental components (primarily the Pleurocentrum; Intercentrum) varies across taxa

 

Several vertebral types based on this, ranging from the primitive rhachitomous condition to the holospondylous condition.

 

 

Vertebrae and associated musculature are

          Intersegmental

 

Two hypotheses as to how this comes about

            Sclerotomal Resegmentation

            Cranial Sclerotomal Degeneration

 

    

Vertebral Articulation:

 

        Amphicoelous, Opisthocoelous, Procoelous, Platyan,

           or Heterocoelous

 

Autotomous Vertebrae

 

 

THE AXIAL SKELETON – THE RIBS

 

FISHES

 

In the fishes, very little musculature is attached to the vertebrae…..

 

Force is directed against the myocommata (= septa)

 

Ribs have developed as an adaptation to strengthen this membrane….i.e. they develop between muscle masses.

 

Three rib types in fishes:

 

    Dorsal Ribs

    Ventral Ribs

    Intermuscular bones

 

These ribs are all within the myosepta, and act to increase muscular efficiency.

 

Sharks have very short dorsal ribs

 

No ribs in cyclostomes or in the seahorses.

  

 

TETRAPODS

 

Tetrapods exhibit a much reduced body wall musculature.

 

Ribs become more important for support.

 

The Bicipital Rib is an adaptation for support against gravitational pull.

 

Rib Modifications:

 

Uncinate processes in tuatara, crocodilians, 

       birds

Turtle Carapace (ribs flatten and fuse)

 

THE APPENDUCULAR SKELETON

 

It is generally accepted that the tetrapod limbs originated from fish fins (pelvic and pectoral)

 

But the origin of paired fins is more perplexing.

  

Gill Arch Hypothesis (Gegenbauer)

 

       This hypothetical fin is very similar to modern lungfish fins.This accounts for pectoral fins but not pelvic fins.

 

Fin-Fold Theory (Balfour & Thacher; Jarvik)

 

Fins may have arisen from ventrolateral folds that also possessed spines.

 

Primitive extant fishes possess an Archipterygial fin, where radial elements project from the axis.

 

Most bony fishes possess a Metapterygial fin, where fin rays extend (posteriorly) from one plane.

 

The Tetrapod limb configuration is more complex.

 

VERTEBRATE GIRDLES

 

Pectoral Girdle

 

The pectoral girdle is a “duplex” structure containing both dermal and somatic endoskeletal elements

 

In fishes, the pectoral girdle is connected to the skull

No dermal elements are found in elasmobranches

There is a ventral scapulocoracoid connection in 

     Elasmobranchs.

 

In Tetrapods, the pectoral girdle is not connected to 

the skull.

 

The clavicle + interclavicle is ankylosed in birds.

 

In all vertebrates with fins/limbs, the endoskeletal

       elements carry the limb articulation.

 

Pelvic Girdle

 

All endoskeletal….no dermal elements

 

In Fishes, no connection to the vertebrae

Located in muscle

May make ventral contact

 

In tetrapods, connected to the vertebral column

Ventral contact via pubis (pubic symphysis)

 

 

 

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