Light microscopy of fetal skeleton showing cartilage (blue) and developing bone marrow (pink). Most of the early fetal skeleton is formed of cartilage

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Light microscopy of fetal skeleton showing cartilage (blue) and developing bone marrow (pink). Most of the early fetal skeleton is formed of cartilage which is replaced with new bone growth deposited on the slender processes of cartilage matrix. This process is called endochondral ossification. The spaces between the cartilage (and later bone) is occupied by the developing bone marrow consisting of many cells and extracellular matrix. Magnification x225 when narrow width printed at 10 cm.

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Photo credit: © MICROSCAPE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: biological, biology, bone, cartilage, chondrocytes, development, endochondral, fetal, fetus, foetus, histological, histology, light, marrow, matrix, microscopy, ossification, section, skeleton