Embryology - 25 Apr 2024 Expand to Translate
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Keith A. Abnormal ossification of Meckel's cartilage. (1910) J Anat. 44: 151-152. PMID 17232837

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This 1910 paper by Keith is a historic description of abnormal Meckel's cartilage development. Note that we now know that Meckel's cartilage, the first pharyngeal arch cartilage, at the region of the middle ear ossicles incus and malleus ossifies while mandible bone formation occurs beside the cartilage by intramembranous ossification.

Modern Notes: incus | malleus | mandible | intramembranous ossification | pharyngeal arch

Categories: Hearing | Outer Ear | Middle Ear | Inner Ear | Balance

Historic Embryology - Hearing
Historic Embryology: 1880 Platypus cochlea \| 1892 Vertebrate Ear \| 1902 Development of Hearing \| 1906 Membranous Labyrinth \| 1910 Auditory Nerve \| 1913 Tectorial Membrane \| 1918 Human Embryo Otic Capsule \| 1918 Cochlea \| 1918 Grays Anatomy \| 1922 Human Auricle \| 1922 Otic Primordia \| 1931 Internal Ear Scalae \| 1932 Otic Capsule 1 \| 1933 Otic Capsule 2 \| 1936 Otic Capsule 3 \| 1933 Endolymphatic Sac \| 1934 Otic Vesicle \| 1934 Membranous Labyrinth \| 1934 External Ear \| 1938 Stapes - 7 to 21 weeks \| 1938 Stapes - Term to Adult \| 1940 Stapes \| 1942 Stapes - Embryo 6.7 to 50 mm \| 1943 Stapes - Fetus 75 to 150 mm \| 1946 Aquaductus cochleae and periotic (perilymphatic) duct \| 1946 aquaeductus cochleae \| 1948 Fissula ante fenestram \| 1948 Stapes - Fetus 160 mm to term \| 1959 Auditory Ossicles \| 1963 Human Otocyst \| Historic Disclaimer

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Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding. (More? Embryology History \| Historic Embryology Papers)

Abnormal Ossification of Meckel's Cartilage

Arthur Kerry, M.D., Conservator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.

In 1879 my colleague Mr Shattock described in this Journal (vol. xiv. p- 201) a case in which Meckel’s cartilage had undergone ossification between the mandible and the malleus. I have been able to find no record of a similar case; but recently, when investigating two specimens from the museum representing certain malformations of the tongue, I found that Meckel’s cartilage was ossified in the manner described by Mr Shattock. His specimen was obtained from a case of achondroplasia; one of mine came from a deformed fcetus (fig. 1), and the other from an anencephalic foetus (tig. 2). In fig. 1 the two bars of bone, which I regard as ossifications of Meckel’s cartilage, are attached to the symphyseal or incisor part of the mandible on each side and articulate behind with a strong processus gracilis of the malleus (see 3). One margin of the bone is free, its other margin is closely united to the inner side of the mandible by fibrous tissue. In fig. 2 the Meckelian bars are shorter and covered with a closely adherent periosteum—such a periosteum as one finds in bones which are ossified in cartilage. They articulate with the mandible at the posterior end of the mylohyoid ridge, and at the other there is a facet for the process of the malleus. In this specimen there are three ossicles at the symphysis: (e) in the symphysis (os mentale); (f) a small ossicle attached to the right half of the mandible near the symphysis; (g) a semi-divided bone behind the symphysis, to which it is attached, and also is imbedded in the tissue at the frenum of the tongue, In fig. 3 the processus gracilis of the malleus of Mr Shattock’s specimen is figured (No. 730, R.C.S.M.). It is a strong, rounded bar of bone which emerges from the tympanum between the tympanic ring and the spine of the sphenoid to articulate with the Meckelian ossicles.

Figs. 1, 2, 3.—1, Mandible of a deformed foetus viewed from below ; 2, mandible of an anencephalic foetus ; 3, tympanic bone, malleus, and processus gravilis of Mr Shattock’s case

a, Meckelian ossicles; 5, facet for processus gracilis ; c, dental foramen ; d, condyle; e, os mentale ; /, y, ossicles ; h, processus gracilis ; 7, tympanic bone; j, head of malleus.

There is in those specimens a complete ossification of the cartilaginous skeleton of the first visceral arch. Two explanations may be offered: (1) the condition is similar to that seen in the second or hyoid arch—and one may infer that the characters of the one had been transferred to the other in a manner similar to the transference of the characters of the first sacral to the last lumbar segment; (2) the more probable explanation is that Meckel’s cartilage has resumed a form it possessed before the temporo-maxillary joint had been evolved. The evidence of these specimens is in favour of those who regard the temporo-maxillary joint as a late acquisition in the evolution of the Vertebrata.

Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 25) Embryology Paper - Abnormal ossification of Meckel's cartilage. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Paper_-_Abnormal_ossification_of_Meckel%27s_cartilage

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