Microscopic Structure of Bone

Osseous Tissue

Another name for bone tissue Bone is a connective Tissue

Widely spread cells Matrix:

Water, Collagen Fibers, Mineral Salts

Calcification

Hardening of bone tissue by the deposition of mineral salts in the collagen fiber of the matrix

Hardness and Flexibility

Hardness – Provided by the crystallized mineral salts

Flexibility – Provided by the collagen fibers Bones can resist being stretched or

torn apart

Cells

There are 4 major types of cells found in osseous tissue Osteoblast Osteocyte Osteoprogenitor Osteoclast

Osteoblast

Bone building cells Synthesize and secrete collagen

fibers and other organic components needed to build the matrix of the tissue

Osteoblasts surround themselves with matrix, become trapped in their secretions and become osteocytesosteocytes

Do not undergo Mitosis

Osteocyte

Mature Bone Cell Main cells in bone tissue

Maintains daily metabolism Do not undergo mitosis

Osteoprogenitor

“Bone stem cells” These cells undergo mitosis then

differentiate to form osteoblasts

Osteoclasts

HUGE cells formed from the fusion of as many as 50 monocytes

Concentrated in the endosteum Release lysosomal enzymes and

acids to digest the matrix

Reabsorption

Breakdown of bone matrix Part of the normal development,

growth, repair and maintenance

Categories of Bone Tissue

Bone has many small spaces between the cells and matrix – it is not completely solid.

The category of tissue is based on the size and distribution of these spaces

About 80% of bone is compact bone; 20% is spongy bone

Compact Bone Tissue

Contains very few spaces Forms the external layer of all

bones and the diaphyses of long bones

Provides protection and support Resists stress produced by weight

and movement

Osteon

Organizational Unit of Compact Bone

Perforating Canals

Transverse openings through which vessels from the periosteum penetrate the compact bone and eventually meet up with other vessels

Central (Haversian) Canal

Run longitudinally through bone It is the center of the osteon Contains blood vessels and nerves

Concentric Lamellae

Rings of hard calcified matrix surrounding the central canal

Lacunae

Means “little lake” Small spaces between the lamellae Contain osteocytes

Canaliculi

Minute canals that radiate off the lacunae in all directions.

Contain projections of the osteocytes Connect lacunae creating a network

throughout the compact bone to provide nutrients and oxygen to all the osteocytes and to get rid of waste

Spongy Bone

Does not contain ostons Made of trabeculae – an irregular

network of thin columns of bone with many spaces in between

Trabeculae contain osteocytes within lacunae connected by canaliculi

Spongy tissue makes up most of flat, short and irregular bones

Forms most of the epiphyses of long bones

Found in a narrow rim around the medullary cavity

Spongy tissue is light – reducing the weight of the skeletal system

Red bone marrow is found in the spaces between trabeculae Hemopoiesis only occurs in the hip

bones, ribs, sternum, vertebrae and epiphyses of long bones – where red bone marrow is found

Bone Scan

Radioactive Tracer is injected through an IV and absorbed by the bone

A scanning device measures the amount of radiation emitted by the bones and translates the information into an x-ray

Normal bones have a consistent gray color

Darker/lighter areas indicate an abnormality Ex - Bone cancer, abnormal healing,

infections, arthritis

Checkpoint Questions – answer these in your notes…

1. What kinds of tissue make up the skeletal system?

2. How do red and yellow bone marrow differ in composition and function?

3. What are the types of bones?4. Draw and label the parts of a typical long

bone.5. What are the 4 types of bone cells?6. How are spongy and compact bone

different in microscopic appearance, function and location?