plastron
Quick Summary
The plastron is the underside of a turtle's shell. It is made of bone and cartilage, typically consisting of nine symmetrically placed bones overlaid by horny plates. These bones are dermal bones, meaning they develop in the skin. The plastron, along with the top part of the shell called the carapace, forms a rigid skeletal box that protects the turtle's internal organs. Unlike the skin of some other reptiles, turtles cannot shed their shells, which are an integral part of their skeletal structure. Specific bones within the plastron include the hyoplastron, epiplastron, and xiphiplastron.123456
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turtle…(carapace) and a bottom (plastron). The carapace and plastron are bony structures that usually join one another along each side of the body, creating a rigid skeletal box. This box, composed of bone and cartilage, is retained throughout the turtle’s life. Because the shell is an integral part of…
Read More…(carapace) and a bottom (plastron). The carapace and plastron are bony structures that usually join one another along each side of the body, creating a rigid skeletal box. This box, composed of bone and cartilage, is retained throughout the turtle’s life. Because the shell is an integral part of…
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The carapace and plastron each arose from two types of bone: dermal bones that form in the skin and endochondral bone (bone arising from cartilage) derived from the skeleton. Evolution has intricately linked these two types of bone to produce the shell of modern turtles. The carapace consists…
Read MoreThe carapace and plastron each arose from two types of bone: dermal bones that form in the skin and endochondral bone (bone arising from cartilage) derived from the skeleton. Evolution has intricately linked these two types of bone to produce the shell of modern turtles. The carapace consists…
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