Skeletalization

Skeletalization is a term used across disciplines to describe processes related to a skeleton or skeletal remains. In forensic anthropology and taphonomy, skeletalization refers to the stage of decomposition in which soft tissues have largely decayed and the remains consist primarily of bones. The duration and progression of skeletalization are influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, soil chemistry, and the presence of scavengers, and the degree of skeletalization can affect the ability to determine species, age, sex, and other identifiers.

In biology and embryology, skeletalization can refer to skeletogenesis—the formation and development of the skeletal system during embryonic growth and maturation. This encompasses cartilage model formation and replacement by bone through endochondral ossification, as well as intramembranous ossification. The process is governed by genetic and molecular pathways, including transcription factors such as SOX9 and RUNX2 and signaling pathways such as BMP and FGF.

In computer science and image processing, skeletalization (also called skeletonization) is a morphological operation that reduces binary objects to a minimal, one-pixel-wide skeleton that preserves the object’s topology and essential structure. This technique is used in pattern recognition, biometric analysis, and medical imaging to simplify complex shapes while retaining their fundamental connectivity.