Fig. 15

Histological examination of mesopodial mesenchymal and cartilaginous condensations. To complement the wholemount alcian cartilage stains, standard H&E paraffin sections were made to look for condensations which may not have shown due to a failure to reach the chondrification stage. In the carpals, we were able to find additional support for elements such as the intermedium, radiale and ulnare (a-c, g-j). In addition, we were able to identify a condensation which appears to be small and transient as distal carpal 1 (j) which does not chondrify and has a significant contribution of mesenchyme from the preaxial side of the limb. In the tarsals, we see a significant amount of shared mesenchymal cells between the distal tarsal 4, fibulare, intermedium and the tibiale (d-f), with the tibiale and intermedium always in closer association and smaller