Zebrafish Anatomical Dictionary

Structure description: Preural Centra and Urostyle

by Paula Mabee and Nathan C. Bird

Name: Preural Centra and Urostyle

Abbreviation: pu1, pu2

Synonyms:
Preural centrum 1: "Second last vertebra" by Ferreri et al. (2000)
Preural centrum 2: "Third last vertebra" by Ferreri et al. (2000)
Urostyle: the last (most posterior) vertebra

Figures:

adult preural centra and urostyle

Description:
Preural 1 (pu1): This vertebra is anterior to the urostyle and is sometimes termed the "penultimate" vertebra.
Preural 2 (pu2): This vertebra is anterior to preural centrum 1 and is sometimes termed the "antepenultimate" vertebra.
Urostyle: This centrum may be formed via the fusion of the terminal centrum and half-centrum. It is sometimes termed the "ultimate" vertebra.
The presursors of preural centra 1 and 2 and the urostyle do not chondrify. Boundaries between centra develop after the fin supports have begun development. These centra ossify later in development.

Homologues:

• Human: none
• Mouse: none
• Chicken: none
• Frog: none
• Fly: none

Stages:

• First appears at: develop as intramembranous ossifications (no cartilage precursors), but are visible as distinct centra by mid larval stage, 6.1 mm
• Disappears (or changes name)by: ossifies later in development, present in adult

Parents (forms from): sclerotome

Children:

• Presumptive (thought to give rise to): present in adult
• Anlage (known to give rise to): present in adult

Group (member of):

• Anatomical (group member): caudal fin skeleton
• Functional (group member): unspecified

Markers:

• mRNA:
  
  
• Antibodies:
  
• Other: Alcian Blue (cartilage) and Alizarin red (bone)

Publications:

• Primary: Mabee, P.M. and Bird, N.C. (2001) A preliminary description of the anatomy and development of the zebrafish axial skeleton. ZFIN Direct Data Submission.
• Secondary:

  Ferreri et al., J. Fish Biol. 56:1115-1128 (2000)

  Dingerkus and Uhler, Stain Technology 52: 229-232 (1977)

  Potthoff, In Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes, vol. 1 (ed. H. G. Moser) Spec. Pub. Am. Soc. Icthyol. Herp, (1984).

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