The word "intramembranous" refers to the process by which certain bones in the human body are formed. The word can be broken down into three parts: "intra-" meaning within, "membranous" meaning relating to a membrane or thin layer, and "-ous" meaning full of or possessing. When pronounced, the word is spelled as [ɪntrəˈmɛmbrənəs], with emphasis on the second syllable. It can be difficult to spell due to the multiple syllables and long length of the word.
Intramembranous is an adjective that refers to a process or structure that occurs within a membrane. It specifically pertains to the development or formation of bone tissue.
In the context of bone development, intramembranous ossification is a process in which bone tissue is formed directly from membranous precursor cells. It is one of the two primary methods by which bone is formed during embryonic development, with the other being endochondral ossification.
During intramembranous ossification, specialized cells called osteoblasts differentiate from mesenchymal cells within a soft connective tissue membrane. These osteoblasts secrete osteoid, a collagenous matrix, which then mineralizes and hardens to form bone tissue. The process results in the formation of flat bones, such as those in the skull, as well as parts of the clavicles and mandible.
In addition to bone development, the term intramembranous can also refer to other processes or structures that occur within a membrane. For example, in cell biology, intramembranous proteins are proteins that are embedded within the lipid bilayer of a cell membrane. They play crucial roles in various cellular processes, including signal transduction, membrane transport, and cell adhesion. Overall, intramembranous denotes occurrences within a membrane and is commonly used in the fields of bone development and cell biology.
Within, or between the layers of, a membrane.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "intramembranous" is a compound word combining the prefix "intra-" meaning "within" or "inside", and the word "membranous", which is derived from the Latin word "membrana" meaning "membrane" or "thin layer of tissue".
The term "intramembranous" is commonly used in biology and anatomy to describe a process or structure that occurs within a membrane, specifically referring to the formation and development of bones.