Chondrocranium

Chondrocranium
Details
Identifiers
Latinchondrocranium
TA98A02.1.00.009
TA2357
FMA76621
Anatomical terminology

The chondrocranium (or cartilaginous neurocranium) is the primitive cartilaginous skeletal structure of the fetal skull that grows to envelop the rapidly growing embryonic brain.[1]

The chondrocranium in different species can vary greatly, but in general it is made up of four components, the sphenoids, occipitals, otic capsules, and nasal capsules.[2]

In humans, the chondrocranium begins forming at 28 days from mesenchymal condensations and is fully formed between week 7 and 9 of fetal development. While the majority of the chondrocranium is succeeded by the bony skull, some components do persist into adulthood.[1] In cartilaginous fishes (e.g. sharks and rays) and agnathans (e.g. lampreys and hagfish), the chondrocranium persists throughout life.[3] Embryologically, the chondrocranium represents the basal cranial structure, and lays the base for the formation of the endocranium.[4]

  1. ^ a b Salentijn, L. Biology of Mineralized Tissues: Prenatal Skull Development, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine post-graduate dental lecture series, 2007
  2. ^ Kardong, Kenneth V. (2015). Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution. New York: McGraw-Hill Education. p. 701.
  3. ^ Kent, G.C & Miller, L. (1997): Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. ISBN 0-697-24378-8.
  4. ^ Romer, Alfred Sherwood; Parsons, Thomas S. (1977). The Vertebrate Body. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. pp. 216–247. ISBN 0-03-910284-X.