Ossification

Ossification

Ossification is the process of bone formation, in which connective tissues, such as cartilage are converted into bone or bone-like tissue. The ossified tissue is invaginated with blood vessels. These invade the cartilage and gradually replace it with bone. This process generally starts during the early fetal development stage and continues into early adulthood.

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Ossification endochondrale chez le chat

Types of Ossification

There are two types of ossification: Endochondral ossification and Intramembranous ossification.

Endochondral Ossification

Endochondral ossification is the process in which bone tissue is created. It is essential during the rudimentary formation of long bones, the growth of the length of long bones, and the natural healing of bone fractures.

Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification involves the formation of bone from fibrous membranes. It primarily occurs during formation of the flat bones of the skull but also the mandible, maxilla, and clavicles; the bone is formed from connective tissue such as mesenchyme tissue rather than from cartilage.

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Ossification

Process of Ossification

The process of ossification begins at the primary ossification center in the diaphysis during prenatal development, and replaces cartilage with bone tissue. Secondary ossification occurs after birth, and forms the epiphyses of long bones and the extremities of irregular and flat bones. The diaphysis and both epiphyses of a long bone are separated by a growing zone of cartilage (the epiphyseal plate).

See Also

• Bone
• Bone tissue
• Cartilage
• Endochondral ossification
• Intramembranous ossification

References

Ossification Resources
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