Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (524 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The rigid framework of connected bones that gives form to the body, protects and supports its soft organs and tissues, and provides attachments for muscles.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Skeletons.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Musculoskeletal System
- Narrower topics
- Bone and Bones; Joints
- See also
- Bone and Bones
Related concepts
- Muscles
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 959,935 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Skeleton” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 175,110 of them (18.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 352,392 records.
Reviews account for 84,889 records (8.8%) and meta-analyses for 7,080. Randomized controlled trials number 22,361 (2.3%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 352,392 |
| 2000-2009 | 174,149 |
| 2010-2019 | 258,284 |
| 2020 onward | 175,110 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 84,889 | 8.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 7,080 | 0.7% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 22,361 | 2.3% |
Method: PubMed query "Skeleton"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restoring pre-osteoarthritis cartilage matrix integrity via Col9 mRNA halts osteoarthritis progression | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42685225 · DOI · PMC13537250 |
| Muscle-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Regulate Bone Maintenance During Hibernation Through miRNA-Mediated Signaling | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42645196 · DOI · PMC13511335 |
| Dissociation Between Functional Performance and Structural Joint Damage Following Sertraline Treatment in Collagen-Induced Arthritis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42653256 · DOI · PMC13513182 |
Restoring pre-osteoarthritis cartilage matrix integrity via Col9 mRNA halts osteoarthritis progression [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by the progressive breakdown of cartilage.
- Closing excerpt
- Together, these results provide a translatable framework in which quantitative mechanical-ultrastructural metrics guide ultra-early, presymptomatic intervention for degenerative diseases.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (163 words)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by the progressive breakdown of cartilage. Here, we sought to define a pre-osteoarthritis (pre-OA) state using nanoindentation-based mechanical testing and evaluation of collagen organization in cartilage matrix. The reductions in elastic modulus and impaired viscoelasticity preceded any overt histological degeneration. This mechanical dysfunction was primarily driven by early disorganization of type II collagen, occurring before substantial depletion of cartilage components. We subsequently identified type IX collagen (Col IX), which played a critical role at the pre-OA stage. Intra-articular administration of Col9 mRNAs delivered by polymer-based nanomicelle restored pre-OA cartilage to a healthy, native-like collagen network architecture and preserved cartilage mechanical integrity, ultimately halting OA progression in the rat model. These findings identify viscoelastic dysfunction as an early biomechanical hallmark of pre-OA cartilage and establish Col9 mRNA as a potential anti-OA drug to prevent its onset. Together, these results provide a translatable framework in which quantitative mechanical-ultrastructural metrics guide ultra-early, presymptomatic intervention for degenerative diseases.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42685225 · DOI · PMC13537250
Muscle-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Regulate Bone Maintenance During Hibernation Through miRNA-Mediated Signaling [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Prolonged skeletal muscle disuse, such as extended inactivity and mechanical unloading, typically elicits severe muscle atrophy and progressive bone loss, yet hibernating mammals evade this pathological cascade via poorly defined adaptive mechanisms.
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, hibernating Mu-EVs mitigate this BMP7-inhibiting miRNA to sustain osteogenic activity, hinting at a conserved regulatory cascade that could offer tentative translational clues for managing disuse osteoporosis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (157 words)
Prolonged skeletal muscle disuse, such as extended inactivity and mechanical unloading, typically elicits severe muscle atrophy and progressive bone loss, yet hibernating mammals evade this pathological cascade via poorly defined adaptive mechanisms. Using the Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus) as a unique natural model of prolonged torpor, we demonstrate that skeletal muscle-derived small extracellular vesicles (Mu-EVs) orchestrate protective muscle-bone crosstalk to maintain bone homeostasis during extended disuse. Morphological and microstructural analyses revealed no significant deficits in skeletal muscle and tibial bone between pre-hibernation (PRE) and torpor (TOR) states. Compared with PRE-Mu-EVs, TOR-Mu-EVs significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, markedly upregulating mRNA expression of the key osteogenic markers OCN and COL1A1 (p p p p n = 5, 0.05 p < 0.1, Cohen's d = 0.71, 95% CI [-0.16, 1.38]). Collectively, hibernating Mu-EVs mitigate this BMP7-inhibiting miRNA to sustain osteogenic activity, hinting at a conserved regulatory cascade that could offer tentative translational clues for managing disuse osteoporosis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42645196 · DOI · PMC13511335
Dissociation Between Functional Performance and Structural Joint Damage Following Sertraline Treatment in Collagen-Induced Arthritis [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease often accompanied by depressive symptoms, in which functional impairment does not always reflect the extent of structural joint damage.
- Closing excerpt
- Sertraline did not produce a significant improvement in histopathological outcomes compared with untreated collagen-induced arthritis, while the smaller numerical decline in exploratory wheel-running activity should be interpreted cautiously.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (204 words)
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease often accompanied by depressive symptoms, in which functional impairment does not always reflect the extent of structural joint damage. Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, may influence behavioural and neuroimmune pathways, but its effects on the relationship between joint pathology and functional performance remain unclear. This study evaluated whether sertraline affects functional performance independently of histopathological joint damage in collagen-induced arthritis. Male Wistar rats with collagen-induced arthritis were assigned to untreated or treatment groups receiving sertraline, methotrexate, combined methotrexate and sertraline, infliximab, or tocilizumab. Functional performance was assessed by spontaneous wheel-running activity, body weight, and joint swelling. At week 12, ankle joints underwent histopathological evaluation, and haematological parameters and serum cytokines were analysed. Sertraline did not reduce synovial inflammation, cartilage damage, or bone erosion, although sertraline-treated rats showed a smaller numerical decline in spontaneous wheel-running activity than rats with untreated collagen-induced arthritis. In contrast, methotrexate and biologic therapies improved both structural damage and functional outcomes. Functional performance did not consistently correlate with histopathological severity or circulating cytokine levels. Sertraline did not produce a significant improvement in histopathological outcomes compared with untreated collagen-induced arthritis, while the smaller numerical decline in exploratory wheel-running activity should be interpreted cautiously.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42653256 · DOI · PMC13513182
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Quadriceps, hamstring and patella tendon autografts for primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction demonstrate similar clinical outcomes, including graft failure, joint laxity and complications: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials [4]
- Research article Randomized controlled trials comparing cervical disc arthroplasty and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion outcomes in degenerative spine disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Are Altered Knee Joint Biomechanics Associated with Future Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Outcomes? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies [6]
- Research article Operative versus nonoperative management of type II odontoid fractures in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies [7]
- Research article Comparison of unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression for single-level degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Intraoperative vancomycin for preventing infection after open spine surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [9]
References
- Zhou J, Hu J, Yada E, Zhong J, Terai Y, Winlove CP, et al.. Restoring pre-osteoarthritis cartilage matrix integrity via Col9 mRNA halts osteoarthritis progression. . 2026. PMID 42685225 · DOI · PMC13537250
- He Y, Pan F, Kong Y, Zhang Z, Wang A, Cui M, et al.. Muscle-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Regulate Bone Maintenance During Hibernation Through miRNA-Mediated Signaling. . 2026. PMID 42645196 · DOI · PMC13511335
- Chmielewski G, Mikiewicz M, Kuna J, Jaśkiewicz Ł, Czerwińska J, Majewski M, et al.. Dissociation Between Functional Performance and Structural Joint Damage Following Sertraline Treatment in Collagen-Induced Arthritis. . 2026. PMID 42653256 · DOI · PMC13513182
- White T, Castro M, Antonio L, Hing W, Tudor F, Sattler L. Quadriceps, hamstring and patella tendon autografts for primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction demonstrate similar clinical outcomes, including graft failure, joint laxity and complications: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2026. PMID 40679231 · DOI · PMC13122740
- Yakdan S, Benedict B, Botterbush K, Lagisetty A, Kaleem MI, Alessio R, et al.. Randomized controlled trials comparing cervical disc arthroplasty and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion outcomes in degenerative spine disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Spine. 2025. PMID 40882232 · DOI · PMC13179718
- Savage M, Culvenor AG, Hedger M, Matt AR, O'Brien MJM, McMillan RM, et al.. Are Altered Knee Joint Biomechanics Associated with Future Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Outcomes? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies. Sports Med. 2025. PMID 40762662 · DOI · PMC12513957
- Awad G, Boutros M, Mjahed GA, Monsef JB. Operative versus nonoperative management of type II odontoid fractures in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2025. PMID 40975023 · DOI
- Zhang Y, Ju J, Wu J. Comparison of unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression for single-level degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2025. PMID 41189000 · DOI · PMC12584529
- Sun Y, Ramapuram H, Tracz J, Howell S, Laskay NMB, Mooney J, et al.. Intraoperative vancomycin for preventing infection after open spine surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Neurosurg Spine. 2025. PMID 40644714 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.