Bone Tissue

Dense (Regular) Connective Tissue

Rigid Connective Tissue Cartilage (3 types)

HyalineElasticFibrous

As previously discussed, connective tissue important to the skeletal system can, so far, be summarized as follows:

Fibrous connective tissue TendonsLigaments

Of all the different types of connective tissues found in the body, bone is the most rigid, and it comes in two tissue forms called spongy bone and compact bone.Spongy Bone Compact Bone As can be seen

from this picture, under normal magnification spongy bone looks porous, while compact bone looks solid.

A microscopic look at both types of bone tissue reveals two very different looks

Spongy or Cancellous Bone

Compact or Cortical bone

Compact bone is constructed in complex, cylindrical units called Haversian or Osteonic systems which are arranged directly next to each other and are “cemented” together with additional matrix material. This is what gives compact bone its “solid” look.

A more technical description of compact bone tissue is collagenous fibers embedded in a solid ground substance of calcium and magnesium salts, which is mostly calcium phosphate or the mineral hydroxyapatite, arranged in concentric cylindrical layers, called lamellae, enclosing a central canal (osteonic or “Haversian” canal) with “spider shaped” bone cells (osteocytes) lying in small spaces (lacunae) between the layers.

Spongy bone is matrix arranged as trabeculae, meaning “little beam,” which are bone “spicules” (which means a small, needlelike structure) that look like columns or “struts” with spaces between them. This is what gives spongy bone its porous look.

b.Bone tissue has several important functions:i. Bones (along with some cartilage) are the main

support structures of the body.ii.Bones protect the body’s internal organs.iii.Bones provide attachment sites for tendons

which hold muscles in place. This function is important in creating lever systems for body movement.

iv.Blood cells are produced in the red marrow of bones (the porous nature of spongy bone allows red bone marrow to be housed and protected).

v.Bones function as storage facilities for inorganic salts like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous.