HISTOLOGY OF BONE

BY
DR. MUDASSAR ALI ROOMI (MBBS, M. Phil.)

Bone matrix
It is the extracellular substance in the bone. Composed of inorganic (mineral) and organic components

Bone matrix
INORGANIC (MINERAL) COMPONENT: 65 % of the dry weight of the bone. Responsible for hardness of the bone. Ca and PO4 are present in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals. Bone inorganic component = bone looses its rigidity and becomes as flexible as a tendon ORGANIC COMPONENT: 35 % of the dry weight of bone. Consists of collagen fibers (95 % of the organic component)and amorphous ground substance. Too much collagen gives acidophilia to the bone tissue. The ground substance: chondroitin SO4 and keratan SO4. Bone organic component = white, brittle and fragile mass of bone which breaks easily.

TYPES OF BONE

LOCATION FO COMPACT AND SPONGY BONE

Epiphysis are composed of spongy bone and covered by a thin layer of compact bone

LOCATION FO COMPACT AND SPONGY BONE

The flat bones of skull are composed of two layers (tables) of compact bone separated by a thin layer of spongy bone.

LOCATION OF COMPACT AND SPONGY BONE

Shaft (diaphysis) of long bones consists almost entirely of compact bone. Only a thin layer of spongy bone lines the inner surface of the shaft immediately surrounding the Medullary cavity.

COMPARISON
COMPACT BONE
Location: In the shaft of long bones and also in the skull bones and in the epiphysis. Lamellae: arranged to form Haversian system (osteon). Bone marrow: red before puberty and yellow after puberty. Nature: hard and ivory like

SPONGY BONE (cancellous bone) In the epiphysis of long bones

Arranged in the form of a meshwork of bone trabeculae. No Haversian system

Red bone marrow.

spongy

COMPACT BONE
We will discuss it under the following heads: It has got a lamellar structure (4 types) Periosteum: outer covering of bone. Endosteum: inner covering of bone which lines the medullary cavity. Canals (2 types): Haversian and volkmanns Bone cells

Periosteum
it is the outer most covering of bone. It is absent at the articular surfaces. It consists of two layers. outer layer of irregularly arranged dense collagen fibers inner cellular layer which lodges inactive (resting) fibroblast which appear as flattened cells. Periosteum is pain sensitive Sharpys fibers: some of the collagen fibers from the periosteum penetrate the bone matrix obliquely and bind the periosteum to bone.

Lamellae of compact bone

1. Periosteal (outer circumferential) lamellae 2. Haversian (concentric) lamellae 3. Interstitial lamellae 4. Inner circumferential lamellae Each lamella is 3-7 um thick.

HAVERSIAN SYSTEM (OSTEON)

It is the structural unit of the bone tissue. It is long cylinder that run approximately parallel to the long axis of bone. Surrounded by cement substance. It is composed of : 1. 5-20 concentric lamellae 2. Osteocytes in the lacunae 3. Lacunae are located b/w the successive lamellae. 4. Haversian canal (which contains blood vessels, nerves, and loose C.T.)

Compact bone (t.s)

Compact bone (L.S)

OSTEONS (wow!)

Canaliculi between Osteocytes

Compact bone (t.s)

Compact bone
Identification points: 1. Characteristic lamellae 2. Haversian canal 3. Volkmanns canal 4. Typical bone cells 5. Haversian system

Spongy bone

Spongy bone
It is idntified by: 1. Trabeculae of the bone matrix 2. Haemopoitic (bone marrow) tissue 3. Few Haversian system

COMPARISON BETWEEN
CARTILAGE Fibers: Type I and Type II collagen fibers. Vascularity: avascuar Nerves : absent Repair: low Communications between cells: absent Hydration: high (75%) Mineralization: no BONE Type I collagen fibers. Highly vascular. Present. High Gap junctions b/w osteocytes. Low (7%) Ca, PO4