![]() Descriptions of shell regeneration after heat damage in wild tortoises exist and wild chelonians may be found with healed shell lesions. The shell can regenerate and remodel when injured. Retained scutes may be at risk to secondary infections. 2 Retention of scutes is frequently reported anecdotally in captive aquatic turtles but normal scute shedding patterns or the impact of husbandry factors (e.g., temperature range, basking opportunity, nutritional status, light cycle) on scute shedding is poorly understood. ![]() Hard shelled aquatic turtles routinely shed scutes throughout life, not just during growth. 2The pleuroperitoneal (coelomic) membrane separates the shell and the body cavity internal organs. 2,4,17 The number/size of bony plates varies with species as can scute pattern. 2,17 Dermal bone and scute nomenclature has been reported. The suture margins where bony plates meet do not align with the seams where scutes meet. The epidermis invaginates into the dermis at the seam and new keratin is produced in this area. The dermis is covered with keratinized epidermal scutes formed from β-keratin in hard shelled turtles and α-keratin in soft shelled turtles.10 The areas where scutes join are called seams. 10 The areas where bony plates join are called sutures. 10 The inner dermal layer (dermal bone) is composed of outer and inner compact bone plates with trabecular bone between them. 17 The outer dermal layer (dermal connective tissue) has collagen fibers, melanophores, vessels and nerves. The limb girdles are fused to the shell in Pleurodira (side-necked turtles). The shell bone is composed of multiple bony dermal plates and modified skeletal structures and is fused to vertebral bodies (except cervical and caudal) and ribs. It is comprised of a bony layer covered by keratinized epithelium and reviews of shell histology for the clinician are available. ![]() 9,13,21 The shell is typically divided into three major regions: carapace (dorsal area), plastron (ventral area) and bridge (lateral areas). The chelonian shell is a living, metabolically active structure.
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