Histology, Types of Cells, Formation, and Remodeling of Bone

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering bone histology, specialized cell types, ossification stages, growth, and remodeling from the skeletal system lecture slides.

Osteon (Haversian system)

The basic structural and functional unit of compact bone, composed of concentric rings or layers of bone matrix (lamellae) surrounding a central canal.

Lamella

Concentric rings or layers of bone matrix that surround a central (Haversian) canal.

Central (Haversian) canal

A canal containing blood vessels that supply bone cells with nutrients and $O_2$ and remove wastes, connected to osteons by Volkman's canals.

Volkman's canal (Perforating canal)

A canal that carries blood vessels connecting to osteons and leading into the medullary cavity containing marrow.

Lacuna

A cavity within the bone matrix in which an osteocyte lives.

Canaliculi

Smaller, radiating canals that connect osteocytes to the central canal, supplying them with nutrients and removing waste.

Osteocyte

An amitotic bone cell that resides in a lacuna, maintaining bone tissue and the mineral concentration of the bone matrix.

Osteoblast

An amitotic, bone-building cell that forms the bone matrix and deposits new bone.

Osteogenic cell

A mitotic stem cell of bone from which osteoblasts and osteocytes are formed.

Osteoclast

A multinucleated bone-destroying cell, originating from monocytes and macrophages, that resorbs bone.

Ossification

The formation of bone, performed by osteoblasts.

Bone remodeling

The coordinated process in which osteoclasts reabsorb old bone and osteoblasts deposit new bone.

Appositional growth

Growth in bone width where new bone is added by osteoblasts to remodel the growing shaft.