The multiscale architecture of tessellated cartilage and its relation to function

Abstract

When describing the architecture and ultrastructure of animal skeletons, introductory biology, anatomy and histology textbooks typically focus on the few bone and cartilage types prevalent in humans. In reality, cartilage and bone are far more diverse in the animal kingdom, particularly within fishes (Chondrichthyes and Actinopterygii), where cartilage and bone types are characterized by features that are anomalous or even pathological in human skeletons. This review discusses the curious and complex architectures of shark and ray tessellated cartilage, highlighting similarities and differences with their mammalian skeletal tissue counterparts. By synthesizing older anatomical literature with recent high‐resolution structural and materials characterization work, this review frames emerging pictures of form–function relationships in this tissue and of the evolution and true diversity of cartilage and bone.

Endoskeletal mineralization in chimaera and a comparative guide to tessellated cartilage in chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, rays and chimaera)

“…general reviews of tessellated cartilage structure and function Applegate [4]; Dean & Summers [5]; Maisey [6]; Dean et al [7]; Dean [8]; Debiais-Thibaud [9]; Huber et al [10]; Seidel et al [11,12,13]; Maisey et al [2] juvenile tesserae and tesserae development Benzer [14]; Ørvig [15]; Schmidt [16]; Bordat [17]; Clement [18]; Kemp & Westrin [19]; Eames et al [20]; Dean et al [21]; Maisey, [6]; Enault et al [22]; Seidel et al [23] factors regulating tesserae mineralization alkaline phosphatase: Lorch [24]; Urist [25]; Eames et al [20]; Omelon et al [26]; Atake et al [27] collagen Type X: Seidel & Blumer et al, [3]; Debiais-Thibaud et al [28] proteoglycans: Takagi et al [29]; Gelsleichter et al [30]; Egerbacher et al [31] peptides/proteins: Glowacki et al [32]; Trivett et al [33]; Ortiz-Delgado et al [34]; Egerbacher et al [31] cells and lacuno-canalicular networks in tesserae Müller [35]; Leydig [36,37]; Tretjakoff [38]; Lorch [24]; Ørvig [15]; Applegate [4]...…”

“…[ 10 ]; Seidel et al . [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]; Maisey et al . [ 2 ] juvenile tesserae and tesserae development Benzer [ 14 ]; Ørvig [ 15 ]; Schmidt [ 16 ]; Bordat [ 17 ]; Clement [ 18 ]; Kemp & Westrin [ 19 ]; Eames et al .…”

“…[ 45 ]; Seidel et al . [ 3 , 12 , 23 , 44 ] fusion of tesserae in elasmobranchs Ridewood [ 55 ]; Applegate [ 4 ]; Kemp & Westrin [ 19 ]; Maisey [ 6 ] Liesegang lines—wave-like mineral density variations Tretjakoff [ 38 ]; Weidenreich [ 56 ]; Bargmann [ 54 ]; Ørvig [ 15 ]; Applegate [ 4 ]; Moss [ 57 ]; Kemp & Westrin [ 19 ]; Peignoux-Deville et al . [ 39 ]; Takagi et al .…”

“…[ 71 ]; Seidel et al . [ 12 ] Sharpey's fibres—perichondral fibres in tesserae Bargmann [ 54 ]; Ørvig [ 15 ]; Kemp & Westrin [ 19 ]; Seidel & Blumer et al . [ 3 ] spokes—structural, tesserae reinforcements first description: Seidel et al .…”

“…[ 58 ]; Seidel et al . [ 12 , 44 ]; Maisey et al . [ 2 ] trabeculae – jaw cartilage reinforcement Bargmann [ 54 ]; Summers et al .…”