provides a rigid supporting and protective framework to the body and vital organs.
Is the structural component of bone, serves as a place of attachment for skeletal muscles allowing movement, and functions as a reservoir for calcium phosphate.
Is a dynamic tissue. Old bone is constantly being resorbed and new bone formed.
Consists of cells and extracellular matrix, like other connective tissues.
Its extracellular matrix consists mostly of type I collagen fibres and is mineralised by the deposition of calcium phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals, providing rigidity and strength.
The cells associated with bone tissue are osteoprogenitor cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts.
(ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Text Teresa Tiffert; Micrographs Lippincott Williams & Wilkins unless otherwise stated)
Cells of Bone Tissue
Osteoprogenitor cells: undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells that give rise to osteoblasts. They are located on the internal and external surfaces of bones.
Osteoblasts: synthesise the organic extracellular matrix of bone tissue (called osteoid) and mediate its mineralisation.
Osteocytes: osteoblasts that have ceased their bone-forming activity and are enclosed within spaces in the bone matrix called lacunae. Osteocytes are responsible for maintenance and turnover of bone matrix. Osteocytes have multiple branches which expand along small channels (canaliculi) within the bone matrix and connect with branches of osteocytes from neighboring lacunae.
Osteoclasts: multinucleated phagocytic cells that erode and resorb previously formed bone. Together with osteoblasts, osteoclasts participate in the constant bone turnover and remodeling.
Growing bone spicule embedded in the marrow cavity (Mallory Azan x750)
Osteoblasts line up along bone surfaces.
Active osteoblasts are large broad spindle-shaped, cuboidal or polygonal, arranged in apposition to the forming bone.
Inactive osteoblasts are narrow attenuated spindle-shaped, flat cells.
Osteoid refers to the nonmineralised bone matrix.
The marrow space contains blood cell precursors.
Osteoclast on a bone spicule made of calcified cartilage (light blue) and a covering bone tissue (dark blue), (Mallory x700)
An Osteoclast is shown lying in a depression resorbed from the bone spicule.
Osteoclasts are large multinucleated phagocytic cells
Osteoclasts participate in the constant bone turnover and remodeling. They derive from bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells via monocytes.
ELECTRON MICROGRAPHS OF BONE-FORMING CELLS
Osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cell
Osteoblasts (1 to 5), lined up on the surface of bone (B). Osoteoblasts show abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum reflecting their ability to synthesise protein. Lying above the osteoblasts is an osteoprogenitor cell (Op), characterised by its elongated, spindled shape and pale-staining nucleus.
Osteocyte
Osteocyte occupies a lacuna (L). The osteocyte processes extend into canaliculi (arrows) within the bone matrix (B). Osteocytes have a flattened nucleus and their cytoplasm is relatively poor in organelles. Extracellular bone fluid fills the lacunar space surrounding the osteocyte.
Compact or dense bone tissue: appears as a solid mass. It forms the outside layer of bones.
Spongy or cancellous bone tissue: consists of a network of anastomosing bony spicules, called trabeculae. The spaces delimited by trabeculae are occupied by bone marrow. Spongy bone forms the interior of bone.
Figure: Epiphysis of the adult long bone (longitudinal section) Structure of compact bone
Osteons or Haversian systems are the structural units of compact bone.
Osteons consist of concentric layers or lamellae of mineralised bone matrix surrounding a Haversian canal which contains the neurovascular supply of the osteon. Neurovascular bundles of neighboring Haversian canals are connected with one another and with the periosteum and endosteum by transverse or oblique canals known as Volkmanns canals.
Osteocytes are arranged between lamellae, occupying lacunae with radiating canaliculi containing osteocytes processes.
Diagram of a section of compact bone removed from the shaft of a long bone Osteon or Haversian system
Osteons or Haversian systems are the structural units of compact bone.
Osteons consist of concentric layers of mineralised bone matrix (lamellae) surrounding a Haversian canal which contains the neurovascular supply of the osteon.
Osteocytes are arranged between lamellae, occupying lacunae with radiating canaliculi spaces within the bone matrix containing osteocytes processes. Osteocytes of neighboring lacunae are interconnected by their cell processes linked by gap junctions.
Figure: Bone from the outer area of the shaft of a long bone