Development of the Skeletal System

  • Craniofacial skeleton
    • derived from neural crest & brachial arches
    • intramembranous except for base of skull which is endochondral
  • Axial skeleton
    • derived from sclerotome of somites
    • largely endochondral
  • Appendicular skeleton
    • derived from lateral plate mesoderm that contributes to the formation of limb buds
    • largely endochondral

Intramembranous

  • Directly from mesenchymal condensations
  • Begins at end of embryonic period
  • Mesenchymal cells differentiate into osteoblasts & lay down osteiod
  • eg. Cranial vault, facial bones, clavicle

Endochondral

  • mesenchymal (blastemal) condensation changes into a cartilaginous miniature precursor at end of embryonic period
  • mesenchymal elements begin to dhondrify at ~ 6w of embryonic development
  • at ~ 7 weeks the cartilage cells which are all the round cell type initially, become hypertrophic & local matrix begins to calcify
  • simultaneously a periosteal sleeveof bone forms circumferentially at the midshaft of each cartilage anlage
  • by direct ossification of collagenous material intramembranous bone formation occurs
  • at 8w blood vessles extend thru the periosteal sleeve into the central portion of the hypertrophied & calcified cartilaginous anlage expanding the primary centre of ossification
  • happens first in humeri but rapidly through out body
  • this marks the point between embryo & fetus
  • blood supply brings lineage of bone cells that differentiate into osteoblasts & osteoclasts
  • osteoclasts are responsible for removing the primary trabeculae & forming the medulary canal
  • primary centre is enlarged by the process of advancing enchondral ossification & trailling osteoclastic resorption
  • cartilaginous regions at either end of the 1° entre of ossification because the growth regions or physes
  • at time of morphogenesis the joint clefts are formed by a process of joint cavitation within