Vertebrate Skeletal Histology and Paleohistology

1. Paleohistology: An Historical – Bibliographical Introduction
2. An Overview of the Embryonic Development of the Bony Skeleton
3. The Vertebrate Skeleton: A Brief Introduction
4. Microanatomical Features of Bones and Their Basic Measurement
5. Bone Cells and Organic Matrix
6. Current Concepts of the Mineralization of Type I Collagen in Vertebrate Tissues
7. An Overview of Cartilage Histology
8. Bone Tissue Types: A Brief Account of Currently Used Categories
9. Basic Processes in Bone Growth
10. Accretion Rate and Histological Features of Bone
11. Bone Remodeling
12. Remarks on Metaplastic Processes in the Skeleton
13. Histology of Dental Hard Tissues
14. Introduction
15. Finned Vertebrates
16. Early Tetrapodomorphs
17. Lissamphibia
18. Early Amniotes and Their Close Relatives
19. Testudines
20. Lepidosauria
21. Sauropterygia: Placodontia
22. Sauropterygia: Nothosauria and Pachypleurosauria
23. Sauropterygia: Histology of Plesiosauria
24. Ichthyosauria
25. Archosauromorpha: From Early Diapsids to Archosaurs
26. Archosauromorpha: The Crocodylomorpha
27. Archosauromorpha: Avemetatarsalia – Dinosaurs and Their Relatives
28. Nonmammalian Synapsids
29. Diversity of Bone Microstructure in Mammals
30. Phylogenetic Signal in Bone Histology
31. Cyclical Growth and Skeletochronology
32. Aging and Senescence Processes in the Skeleton
33. Basic Principles and Methodologies in Measuring Bone Biomechanics
34. Interpreting Mechanical Function in Extant and Fossil Long Bones
35. Bone Microanatomy and Lifestyle in Tetrapods
36. Bone Histology and the Adaptation to Aquatic Life in Tetrapods
37. Bone Histology and Thermal Physiology
38. Bone Ornamentation: Deciphering the Functional Meaning of an Enigmatic Feature
39. The Histology of Skeletal Tissues as a Tool in Paleoanthropological and Archaeological Investigations
40. A Methodological Renaissance to Advance Perennial Issues in Vertebrate Paleohistology

Vertebrate Skeletal Histology and Paleohistology summarizes decades of research into the biology and biological meaning of hard tissues, in both living and extinct vertebrates. In addition to outlining anatomical diversity, it provides fundamental phylogenetic and evolutionary contexts for interpretation. An international team of leading authorities review the impact of ontogeny, mechanics, and environment in relation to bone and dental tissues. Synthesizing current advances in the biological problems of growth, metabolism, evolution, ecology, and behavior, this comprehensive and authoritative volume is built upon a foundation of concepts and technology generated over the past fifty years.