trabecula

Summary

pl. Trabeculae, adj. Trabecular rod-like structure formed of minute radiating fibre-like microstructural elements, whose centres are aligned more or less continuously to form a persistent axis during growth. In transverse section they appear as 'calcification centres'. In longitudinal section, the fibrous structures fan out in more or less regular contiguous tufts from the axis of growth (trabecular axis). Secondary centres may initiate from these tufts. Adjacent trabecular axes are often wholly or partly contiguous and fused by intergrowth, hence forming many of the sheet and plate-like elements that characterise coral skeletons (notably septa). These axes may be parallel or in fan-like arrangements. Closely arranged series of trabecular centres in such structures are sometimes seen in section as a median line. Other skeletal elements may consist of one or a small number of isolated trabeculae. Not all skeletal structure in corals is trabecular; much of it, especially the thickening of skeletal elements is granular (see Stereome). Due to alteration of coral skeletons through diagenesis, trabecular structures are not always preserved, but can sometimes be inferred from the structures that have replaced them, and from the surface morphology of skeletal characters like the septa.

Orthography

Not yet available.

Modifiers

• angle of divergence trabecula
• branching trabecula
• coalescent trabecula
• compound trabecula
• diffuse trabecula trabecula
• divergent trabecula
• fan system trabecula
• large trabecula
• minitrabeculae trabecula
• monoaxial trabecula
• polyaxial trabecula
• polycentric trabecula
• simple trabecula
• small trabecula
• spiral trabecula
• thick trabecula
• latera trabecula
• main trabecula
• medium_sized trabecula
• secondary trabecula

Description

Not yet available.

This version was contributed by Ken Johnson on 22-Apr-2008 14:35.