Editing Trabecula (section)

{{Short description|Tissue element that supports or anchors a framework of parts within a body or organ}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Trabecula
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| Image       = Coxa-valga-norma-vara-000.svg
| Caption     = Alternation of trabecular pattern in the thigh bone reflects mechanical stress
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| Latin       =
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| PartOf = [[Bone]]
}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2017}}
[[File:Bone-inside.jpg|right|thumb|200x200px|Inside of a bone showing the trabecular structure]]
[[File:Typical carcinoid tumor of the lung, trabecular pattern.jpg|thumb|A typical [[carcinoid tumor]] of the [[lung]] showing a [[histopathologic architecture|trabecular pattern]] of elongated groups of cells.]]
A '''trabecula''' ({{plural form}}: '''trabeculae''', from Latin for 'small beam') is a small, often microscopic, [[biological tissue|tissue]] element in the form of a small [[Beam (structure)|beam]], [[strut]] or rod that supports or anchors a framework of parts within a body or organ.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trabecula|title=Definition of TRABECULA|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=trabecula|url=http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/trabecula|journal=The Free Dictionary}}</ref> A trabecula generally has a mechanical function, and is usually composed of dense [[collagen]]ous tissue (such as the [[trabeculae of spleen|trabecula]] of the [[spleen]]).  It can be composed of other material such as muscle and bone. In the [[heart]], [[muscle]]s form [[trabeculae carneae]] and [[septomarginal trabecula|septomarginal trabeculae]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Goo|first1=Soyeon|last2=Joshi|first2=Purva|last3=Sands|first3=Greg|last4=Gerneke|first4=Dane|last5=Taberner|first5=Andrew|last6=Dollie|first6=Qaasim|last7=LeGrice|first7=Ian|last8=Loiselle|first8=Denis|date=October 2009|title=Trabeculae carneae as models of the ventricular walls: implications for the delivery of oxygen|journal=The Journal of General Physiology|volume=134|issue=4|pages=339–350|doi=10.1085/jgp.200910276|issn=0022-1295|pmc=2757768|pmid=19752188|url=https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/bitstream/2292/7825/2/Trabeculae%20carneae%20as%20models%20of%20the%20ventricular%20walls-%20implications%20for%20the%20delivery%20of%20oxygen.pdf}}</ref> and the [[left atrial appendage]] has a tubular trabeculated structure.<ref name="pmid26405642">{{cite journal | vauthors=Srivastava MC, See VY, Price MJ | title=A review of the LARIAT device: insights from the cumulative clinical experience | journal=[[SpringerPlus]] | volume=4 | pages=522 | year=2015 |  doi = 10.1186/s40064-015-1289-8 | doi-access=free | pmc=4574041 | pmid=26405642 }}</ref> 

[[Bone#Trabeculae|Cancellous bone]] is formed from groupings of trabeculated bone tissue. In cross section, trabeculae of a [[Bone#Trabeculae|cancellous bone]] can look like [[septum|septa]], but in three dimensions they are topologically distinct, with trabeculae being roughly rod or pillar-shaped and septa being sheet-like.

When crossing fluid-filled spaces, trabeculae may offer the function of resisting tension (as in the [[penis]], see for example [[trabeculae of corpora cavernosa of penis|trabeculae of corpora cavernosa]] and [[trabeculae of corpus spongiosum of penis|trabeculae of corpus spongiosum]]) or providing a cell filter (as in the [[trabecular meshwork of the eye]]).