Anat Cell Biol.  2023 Jun;56(2):252-258. 10.5115/acb.22.189.

Development and growth of the human fetal sacroiliac joint revisited: a comparison with the temporomandibular joint

• Kim JH
• Jin ZW
• Hayashi S
• Murakami G
• Abe H
• Rodríguez-Vázquez JF

• KMID: 2544087
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.22.189

Abstract

The human fetal sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is characterized by unequal development of the paired bones and delayed cavitation. Thus, during the long in utero period, the bony ilium becomes adjacent to the cartilaginous sacrum. This mor phology may be analogous to that of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). We examined horizontal histological sections of 24 fetuses at 10–30 weeks and compared the timing and sequences of joint cartilage development, cavitation, and ossification of the ilium. We also examined histological sections of the TMJ and humeroradial joint, because these also contain a disk or disk-like structure. In the ilium, endochondral ossification started in the anterior side of the SIJ, extended posteriorly and reached the joint at 12 weeks GA, and then extended over the joint at 15 weeks GA. Likewise, the joint cartilage appeared at the anterior end of the future SIJ at 12 weeks GA, and extended along the bony ilium posteriorly to cover the entire SIJ at 26 weeks GA. The cavitation started at 15 weeks GA. Therefore, joint cartilage development seemed to follow the ossification of the ilium by extending along the SIJ, and cavitation then occurred. This sequence “ossification, followed by joint cartilage formation, and then cavitation” did not occur in the TMJ or humeroradial joint. The TMJ had a periosteum-like membrane that covered the joint surface, but the humeroradial joint did not. After muscle contraction starts, it is likely that the mechanical stress from the bony ilium induces development of joint cartilage.

Keyword

Sacroiliac joint; Temporomandibular joint; Cartilage; Ossification; Human fetus

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Horizontal sections of sacroiliac joints in four fetuses (crown-rump length: 52–90 mm) that were stained with H&E (A) or azan (B–D). (A, B) show that ossification of the ilium occurs in the anterior part, but does not reach the future joint area. (A) shows membranous bones (arrowheads), not cartilaginous bones. (C) shows a small cartilage mass attached to the ilium (arrow). (D) shows that the cartilage covers almost one-third of the future joint area (arrow). The circles in (B–D) indicate endochondral ossification of the ilium. The asterisks in (A, D) indicate an artifact space produced during histological procedure. (A–D) Scale bars=1 mm.

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  Fig. 2 Horizontal sections of sacroiliac joints in four fetuses (crown-rump length: 120–232 mm) that were stained with H&E (A, B, D) or Masson’s trichrome (C). All panels show the bony ilium covering the joint area. (A–C) show that the joint cartilage of the ilium (arrows) covers the anterior half of the joint area. (D) shows the cartilage extends posteriorly over the joint. (B, D) show the joint cavities (stars). The insert on the left of (C) (corresponding to the rectangle in the main panel) shows CD68-positive cells at higher magnification, in which the future joint space (triangles) contains no macrophages. The circles in (A, C) indicate endochondral ossification of the ilium. The asterisk in (A) indicates an artifact space produced during the histological procedure. All panels (except the C insert) were at the same magnification. (A) Scale bar=1 mm.

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  Fig. 3 Sagittal sections of temporomandibular joints in three fetuses (crown- rump length: 125, 210, and 250 mm) that were stained with H&E. (A) shows attachment of the condylar cartilage to the bony temporal bone, with initiation of ossification in the condyle (arrowheads) and cavitation (stars). (B, C) show that the joint cavity is large and the disk is thick, but a periosteum-like membrane (arrows) covers the joint surface of the condyle and temporal bone, instead of the joint cartilage. Ovals in (C) show endochondral ossification occurs in the condyle. (A–C) Scale bars=1 mm.

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  Fig. 4 Sagittal sections of the humeroradial joint in a fetus (crown-rump length: 250 mm) that were stained with H&E. (A) shows the topographical anatomy around the humeroradial joint. (B–D) are higher magnification views of three rectangles in (A). (B, C) show the periosteum and joint capsule at recesses of the joint cavity. (D) shows a thick synovial fold and its adjacent joint cartilage, and that the periosteum does not continue to the joint surface in the humeroradial joint (arrows). The oval in (B) shows the endochondral ossification is at the distal end of the periosteum in the humerus, and the oval in (C) shows it is covered by the periosteum in the radius. (A) Scale bar=1 mm; (B–D) Scale bars=0.1 mm.

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