Ossification

Definition

Ossification is the process of bone tissue formation from cartilage or fibrous tissue. It occurs in two primary forms: intramembranous and endochondral ossification.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intramembranous ossification primarily forms flat bones like those of the skull.
2. Endochondral ossification is responsible for forming long bones such as the femur.
3. Ossification begins during fetal development and continues into early adulthood.
4. Osteoblasts are the cells that synthesize new bone matrix during ossification.
5. The epiphyseal plate, or growth plate, is where endochondral ossification occurs in growing children and adolescents.

Review Questions

• What are the two primary types of ossification?
• Which type of ossification is responsible for forming long bones?
• At what stages of life does ossification occur?

Related terms

Osteoblasts:

Cells that produce new bone tissue by secreting collagen and other materials.

Epiphyseal Plate: The area of growing tissue near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents.

Cartilage:

A flexible connective tissue found in various parts of the body, which can be a precursor to bone in the process of endochondral ossification.