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An Osteological and Histological Investigation of Cranial Joints in Geckos
Author(s) -
Payne Samantha L.,
Holliday Casey M.,
Vickaryous Matthew K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the anatomical record: advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.21329
Subject(s) - quadrate bone , anatomy , syndesmosis , synovial joint , pterygoid muscles , biology , skull , cranial cavity , osteology , pathology , articular cartilage , temporomandibular joint , medicine , fibula , osteoarthritis , tibia , alternative medicine
Cranial kinesis is a widespread feature of gekkotan lizards. Previous studies of kinesis in lizards often described the relevant, mobile joints as synovial, thus characterized by the presence of a synovial cavity lined with articular cartilage. To date however, detailed investigations of cranial joint histology are lacking. We examined eight cranial joints (quadrate–articular, quadrate–pterygoid, quadrate–otooccipital, quadrate–squamosal, epipterygoid–prootic, epipterygoid–pterygoid, basisphenoid–pterygoid, and frontal–parietal) in five gekkotan species ( Oedura lesueuerii , Eublepharis macularius , Hemitheconyx caudicinctus , Tarentola annularis, and Chondrodactylous bibronii ) using microcomputed tomography and serial histology. Particular focus was given to the relationship between the bony and soft‐tissue components of the joint. Our results demonstrate that only three of these joints are synovial: the quadrate–articular, epipterygoid–pterygoid, and basisphenoid–pterygoid joints. The frontal–parietal and quadrate–pterygoid joints are syndesmosis (fibrous), the epipterygoid–prootic and quadrate–otooccipital joints are synchondroses (cartilaginous without a synovial cavity) and the quadrate–squamosal joint was not present. Based on previous descriptions, we determine that the structure of some cranial joints is variable among lizard taxa. We caution that osteology does not necessarily predict cranial joint histology. Although the functional implications of these findings remain to be explored we note that the development of synovial joints appears to be associated with a neural crest origin for the elements involved. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.