Pachyostosis

Pachyostosis

Pachyostosis

Condition in which bones have an abnormally elevated density

Pachyostosis[1] is a non-pathological condition in vertebrate animals in which the bones experience a thickening, generally caused by extra layers of lamellar bone. It often occurs together with bone densification (osteosclerosis), reducing inner cavities. This joint occurrence is called pachyosteosclerosis. However, especially in the older literature, "pachyostosis" is often used loosely, referring to all osseous specializations characterized by an increase in bone compactness and/or volume.[2] It occurs in both terrestrial and, especially, aquatic or semi-aquatic vertebrates.[2]

Skull dome of Stegoceras (AMNH 5450) showing cross-section thickness

In aquatic animals, such as seacows (manatees and dugongs), Thalassocnus,[3] and plesiosaurs, pachyostosis in the thoracic region provides (or provided) ballast against the air-filled lungs. This maintains neutral buoyancy in aquatic habitats.

Most giant deer showed pronounced pachyostosis of the mandible and skull.[4][5] It has been suggested that this served to store minerals for antler growth.[6] Many Pachycephalosauria and most members of the Dinocephalia clade of therapsids had thickened skull bones, probably used in head-butting contests.[7]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Domning, D. P.; Debuffrenil, V. (1991). "Hydrostasis in the Sirenia - Quantitative Data and Functional Interpretations". Marine Mammal Science. 7 (4): 331–368. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1991.tb00111.x.
  2. [2]
    Houssaye, A (2009). ""Pachyostosis" in aquatic amniotes: a review". Integrative Zoology. 4 (4): 325–340. doi:10.1111/j.1749-4877.2009.00146.x. PMID 21392306.
  3. [3]
    Amson, E.; de Muizon, C.; Laurin, M.; Argot, C.; de Buffrenil, V. (2014). "Gradual adaptation of bone structure to aquatic lifestyle in extinct sloths from Peru". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 281 (1782): 1–6. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.0192. PMC 3973278. PMID 24621950.
  4. [4]
    van der Made, J.; Tong, H. W. (2008). "Phylogeny of the giant deer with palmate brow tines Megaloceros from west and Sinomegaceros from east Eurasia" (PDF). Quaternary International. 179 (1): 135–162. Bibcode:2008QuInt.179..135V. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2007.08.017.
  5. [5]
    Vislobokova, I. A. (2013). "Morphology, taxonomy, and phylogeny of megacerines (Megacerini, Cervidae, Artiodactyla)". Paleontological Journal. 47 (8): 833–950. doi:10.1134/s0031030113080017. S2CID 86697746.
  6. [6]
    Lister, A. M. (1994). "The evolution of the giant deer, Megaloceros giganteus (Blumenbach)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 112 (1–2): 65–100. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1994.tb00312.x.
  7. [7]
    Snively, E.; Cox, A. (2008). "Structural Mechanics of Pachycephalosaur Crania Permitted Head-Butting Behavior". Palaeontologia Electronica. 11: 17.
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