1. Describe Endochondral Ossification.

Endochondral (Intracartilaginous) Ossification is the growth of (long) bones from cartilage patterns during fetal development. The primary ossification center is where formation initially begins, and it is the midshaft region of the bone. Chondrocytes within the cartilage rapidly divide and enlarge in size to produce more extracellular matrix. The chondrocytes start to die off after forming osteoid. A bony collar begins to form around the cartilage model of the primary ossification center (which becomes the diaphysis) and blood vessels invade the spaces in the osteoid. Ossification continues, forming the medullary cavity. At the two ends, secondary ossification centers appear to form the epiphyses. The chondrocytes there multiply and die off as ossification occurs. The chondrocyte cells that survive get pushed to form epiphyseal lines. 2. Describe the structure of a synovial joint. Give two examples. Synovial joints have articular surfaces that are specialized layers of compact bone over the parts that articulate with other bones. Over the articular surfaces is articular cartilage, which is hyaline cartilage. The articular cavity, the space between two adjacent bones, contains a small amount of synovial fluid and is surrounded by the joint capsule. The joint capsule has two layers: synovial membrane and fibrous capsule. The fibrous capsule is the outer layer that is made of a heavier fibrous sleeve and may be thickened to become ligaments. The synovial membrane is an inner layer of special connective tissue that secretes synovial fluid. Examples of synovial joints are the hinge joint in the fetlock and the sliding/gliding joints in the carpals. 3. Discuss HOW calcitonin regulations plasma calcium ion levels. If there are elevated levels of plasma calcium ions, the thyroid senses it and releases calcitonin. Calcitonin increases the activity of osteoblasts and osteocytes while also dampening the activity of osteoclasts. This will allow osteoid to be laid down faster and for calcium to be taken from the blood to be deposited in the osteoid without osteoclasts affecting them. When the calcium ions in the blood level out, the thyroid will stop producing calcitonin and the activities of the bone cells will go back to normal.

Sources: Frandson, Rowen, W. Lee Wilke, and Anna Fails.Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals. 7th ed. . Ames: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. 80-90 Print. Class notes