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. 2006 Oct 31;274(1607):183–197. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2006.3705

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Soft tissue and cells from selected dinosaur specimens. (MOR 555, a–e) Tyrannosaurus rex. (a) Fragment of demineralized, flexible cortical bone matrix with fibrous texture. Transparent osteocytes are visible among the matrix fibres. (b) Interconnected network of transparent and/or lightly pigmented vessels, released after demineralization. Vessels are hollow and supple. (c) Vessel fragment filled with small red microstructures with opaque centres, surrounded by fibrous bone matrix containing osteocytes. Pigmentation is natural. (d) Internal, intracellular contents are visible in isolated osteocyte with filipodia. (e) Filipodia associated with small fragment of fibrous matrix. (MOR 699, f–k) Triceratops horridus. (f) Deeply pigmented, flexible matrix tissue with vascular channel in centre. Inset shows fibrous matrix with pigmented spaces representing retained osteocytes and partial vessel. (g) Isolated transparent vessels containing darkly pigmented intravascular structures. Vessels were rare in this specimen. (h) Round red microstructures associated with longitudinal space, possibly representing vascular canal running through demineralized fibrous matrix. (i,j) Isolated osteocytes with long filipodia. (k) Vessel fragment showing surface texture and natural pigmentation. (MOR 1125, l–p) Tyrannosaurus rex. (l) Fragment of demineralized, naturally pigmented fibrous matrix tissue containing osteocytes. (m) Interconnected, flexible, transparent vessels with pigmented intravascular structures with varying diameters similar to extant vessels. (n) Vessel with hollow lumen and uniformly thick vessel wall, containing deeply pigmented intravascular microstructure. (o) Isolated, free-floating osteocytes, with long, extensive filipodia and intracellular contents. (p) Three naturally pigmented intravascular microstructures with opaque centre, expressed from vessel. (MOR 794, q–u) Brachylophosaur canadensis. (q) Flexible, fibrous demineralized bone matrix with variable pigment distribution. (r) Orange-pigmented vessels, either crystalline or flexible. Flexible vessel walls, less transparent than in other dinosaurs (Inset). (s) Isolated, flexible branching vessel with intravascular contents. (t,u) Naturally pigmented osteocytes with extensive three-dimensional filipodial network. Scale bars are as indicated.