osteodermsbony
Osteodermsbony is a term that appears in some discussions to refer to the study of osteoderms—the bony deposits that form in the dermal layer of the skin in various vertebrates. More commonly, the related term osteoderm is used to describe the armor plates themselves, while osteodermsbony can be understood as focusing on the bone tissue, histology, development, and variation of these structures. The usage reflects a combined interest in the morphology and biology of dermal bones.
Osteoderms are typically dermal bones that can occur as discrete plates, bands, or a continuous armor covering
Taxonomically, osteoderms are found in crocodilians, armadillos, various extinct armored dinosaurs such as ankylosaurs and stegosaurs,
Research approaches include histological analysis, microcomputed tomography, and comparative anatomy to understand formation, growth, and variation