Sacrum and pelvis structure and development in four species of Lacertidae currently assigned to different genera are studied: Lacerta agilis, L. vivipara, L. saxicola, Podarcis muralis. Size, shape, and position relationships between the cartilaginous elements as well as patterns and sequence of chondrification and ossification are given. Two sacral segments are characterized by a number of mar...

The sternum is derived from a pair of vertical mesenchymal bands, called sternal bars, that develop ventrolaterally in the body wall. Chondrification occurs in these bars craniocaudally in the median plane to produce cartilaginous models of the manubrium, body segments (sternebrae), and the xiphoid process. Fusion of the bars at the inferior end of the sternum is sometimes incomplete (1, 3). Th...

Bones of the postcranial skeleton of higher vertebrates originate from either somitic mesoderm or somatopleural layer of the lateral plate mesoderm. Controversy surrounds the origin of the scapula, a major component of the shoulder girdle, with both somitic and lateral plate origins being proposed. Abnormal scapular development has been described in the naturally occurring undulated series of m...

An analysis was made of the differentiative capabilities of somites isolated from all regions of stage-8 (4-somite) to stage-18 (36-somite) chick embryos, with particular reference to the incidence of spontaneous chondrogenesis. A chorioallantoic grafting technique with Millipore filter as a graft vehicle was employed. The youngest somites which spontaneously differentiated cartilage were the a...

RATIONALE In previous studies, few cases of cervical myelopathy caused by invaginated anomalous laminae of the axis have been reported, and none of them was combined with occipitalization of the atlas. PATIENT CONCERNS A 28-year-old male was brought to our hospital with motor and sensory impairments of the extremities after a car accident. DIAGNOSES MRI showed the spinal cord was markedly c...

The Tcf family of transcription factors, in association with beta-catenin, mediate Wnt signaling by transactivating downstream target genes. Given the function of wnt genes in neural development and organogenesis, Tcf transcription factors must be integral to the development of many embryonic tissues. In fact, the role of Tcf genes in axis formation in Xenopus and in segment polarity in Drosoph...

OBJECTIVE To establish an animal model for heterotopic ossification (HO) induced by sharp instrument injury in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat and to investigate its possible mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 48 male SD rats were divided into 3 groups (n=16). In sham group, incision and suture were performed only in the left leg. Partial tenotomy was performed in the left Achilles tendons i...

It has been hypothesized that intervertebral disc degeneration is initiated by degeneration of the cartilage endplate (CEP), which is characterized by cartilage ossification. CEP‑derived stem cells (CESCs), with the potential for chondro‑osteogenic differentiation, may be responsible for the balance between chondrification and ossification in the CEP. The CEP remains in an avascular and hypoxic...

Introduction: Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCPD) is a complex condition with limited understanding about its healing process. The mechanism of LCPD believed to differ significantly from adult hip avascular necrosis (AVN), thus necessitating an exploration into alternative mechanisms. Our research focused on these mechanisms using review histologic specimens, thorough literature review, and trans...