Bone physiology

Bone is a living, growing tissue. It is a porous mineralized structure, made up of cells, vessels, crystals of calcium compounds (hydroxyapatite), the proportion of which varies according to bone types and regions. The human skeleton is actually made up of 2 types of bones: the cortical bone and the trabecular bone.

Cortical bone (Compact Bone)

Cortical bone represents nearly 80% of the skeletal mass. It is also called compact bone, because it forms a protective outer shell around every bone in the body. Cortical bone has a slow turnover rate and a high resistance to bending and torsion. It provides strength where bending would be undesirable as in the middle of long bones. Let's look a little bit closer at this kind of bone. The first picture shows a cross-section of cortical bone. We can observe a series of adjacent and overlapping bull's eye formations called osteons or Harvesian systems. Each osteon is composed of a central vascular channel surrounded by a kind of tunnel, called the Harvesian canal. The canal can contain capillaries, aterioles, venules, nerves and possibly lymphatics. Between each osteon are interstitial lamellae (concentric layers of mineralized bone). Lamellar bone gets it strength from its plywood-like construction: parallel layers of bone alternate in orientation by 90 degrees.

Trabecular or Cancellous Bone (Spongy Bone)

This kind of bone only represents 20% of the skeletal mass, but 80% of the bone surface. Trabecular bone is less dense, more elastic and has a higher turnover rate than cortical bone. It is found in the epipheseal and metaphysal regions of long bones and throughout the interior of short bones. Trabelcular bone constitutes most of the bone tissue of the axial skeleton: bones of the skull, ribs and spine. It is formed in an intricate and structural mesh. Trabecular bone forms the interior scaffolding, which helps bone to maintain their shape despite compressive forces. Trabecular bone is rigid but appears spongy , it is composed of bundles of short and parallel strands of bone fused together. The center of the bone contains red, yellow marrow, bone cells and other tissues.

by Weilun 080100419

Human Skeletal System Physiology - Bone Physiology

The human skeletal system is well-known as a hard structure that gives the human its shape. The bones allow one to stand upright and give support for movements such as walking and running. The bones are not just collections of calcium and other minerals sitting within the body, however. They are also involved in important physiological processes.
Support, Protection, and Movement

The skeleton protects the inner organs of the body and gives it structural support. The vertebral column supports the upright position of the human, and it also protects the spinal cord. The ribs protect the lungs and heart, and the pelvis protects the pelvic organs, including the female reproductive organs and intestines.The bones are necessary for movement and are used as levers. While muscles contract and relax to facilitate movement, this could not happen if they were not attached to the bones.
Blood Cell Formation

Bone marrow can be found in different types of bone tissue. Red marrow is responsible for the creation of erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and platelets. The presence of hemoglobin gives the marrow its red appearance. As one ages, the red marrow is replaced by yellow marrow, which is comprised mostly of fat and does not produce blood cells.
Blood Calcium Level - Calcium Hydroxyapatite

Calcium is used for several processes within the body, including muscle contraction, metabolism, nerve impulses, and the formation of blood clots. There are specialized bone cells that are involved with maintaining normal blood calcium levels so these processes can be carried out. Bone cells are called osteocytes. Within a bone, inorganic salts (salts that do not contain carbon) and collagen surround the osteocytes. This is called the intercellular matrix. Cylindrical sections of matrix and osteocytes are called osteons, and each osteon has a central canal containing blood vessels and nerves. The salts of the matrix are mostly hydroxyapatite, which is a form of calcium phosphate. Osteoclasts are a type of bone cell that breaks down hydroxyapatite to release calcium into the blood. Osteoblasts build intercellular matrix from the excess calcium in the blood. These bone cells are stimulated by different hormones. When blood calcium levels are too low to sustain the physiological processes of the body, parathyroid hormone is released and osteoclasts are stimulated to break down the hydroxyapatite. When blood calcium levels are

by Weilun 080100419

high, the thyroid releases calcitonin. Calcitonin stimulates osteoblasts to store calcium in the bone matrix. While the bones are necessary for movement and structural support, they greatly affect other physiological processes as well. Red marrow is the site of blood cell formation. Blood calcium levels dictate the calcium content of bones. Specialized osteocytes release calcium into the blood and build bone matrix from excess blood calcium.

by Weilun 080100419