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Bone development in human infant L1 vertebrae, micro-CT. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.
Micro-computer tomography (CT) scans showing bone development in the vertebrae of a human infant spinal column. Spheres were virtually cut out of the first lumbar vertebra (L1) of several spines each at a different developmental age. From left to right: 6 months gestation (whilst the foetus is in the womb), 9 months gestation (whilst the foetus is in the womb), term (within the first year of life after birth), 1.2 years postnatal (after birth) and 2.5 years postnatal (after birth). Development of trabecular bone structure through this time period is shown here. The pattern of vertebral development is one of gestational overproduction, followed by infant 'sculpting' of bone tissue during the first year of life, and then subsequent refinement during early childhood.