Endochondral ossification

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Endochondral ossification is one of the essential pathways by which bone tissue is produced during fetal development and bone repair of the mammalian skeletal system, the other pathways being intramembranous ossification and ectochondral ossification. Both endochondral and intramembranous processes initiate from a precursor mesenchymal tissue, but their transformations into bone are different. In intramembranous ossification, mesenchymal tissue is directly converted into bone. On the other hand, endochondral ossification starts with mesenchymal tissue turning into an intermediate cartilage stage, which is eventually substituted by bone. Ectochondral ossification can occur in membranes surrounding cartilage when endochondral bone initiates in the cartilage and invades the membrane, causing growth beyond the original shape of the cartilage. Endochondral ossification is responsible for development of most bones including long and short bones, the bones of the axial (ribs and vertebrae) and...

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