3D microstructural architecture of muscle attachments in extant and fossil vertebrates revealed by synchrotron microtomography.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Firm attachments binding muscles to skeleton are crucial mechanical components of the vertebrate body. These attachments (entheses) are complex three-dimensional structures, containing distinctive arrangements of cells and fibre systems embedded in the bone, which can be modified during ontogeny. Until recently it has only been possible to obtain 2D surface and thin section images of entheses, leaving their 3D histology largely unstudied except by extrapolation from 2D data. Entheses are frequently preserved in fossil bones, but sectioning is inappropriate for rare or unique fossil material.

Methodology/principal findings

Here we present the first non-destructive 3D investigation, by propagation phase contrast synchrotron microtomography (PPC-SRµCT), of enthesis h

SUBMITTER: Sanchez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3582629 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature