Anostosis

/ænəˈstaʊsɪs/ noun

Definition

The absence or failure of bone formation in a part of the skeleton.

Etymology

From Greek 'an-' (without) + 'osteon' (bone) + '-osis' (condition). A medical term describing a developmental failure to form bone tissue normally.

Kelly Says

Anostosis reveals how bone formation is an active biological process that can fail in specific ways—some bones never form at all, creating rare conditions that help orthopedists understand how bones are supposed to develop.

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