Bone Tissue and Skeletal System

These flashcards cover the vocabulary related to bone tissue and the skeletal system, providing terms and their definitions to aid in understanding.

Epiphyseal (growth) plate

The cartilaginous area at the ends of long bones where growth occurs.

Primary center of ossification

The initial site where bone tissue begins to form in long bones.

Secondary center of ossification

Additional sites of bone formation that appear after the primary center, usually located in the epiphyses.

Osteoblast

Bone-forming cell that secretes the bone matrix.

Osteocyte

Mature bone cell that maintains bone tissue.

Osteoclast

Bone-resorbing cell that breaks down bone matrix.

Bone matrix

The intercellular substance of bone tissue, consisting of collagen fibers and mineral deposits.

Compact bone

The dense outer layer of bone that provides strength.

Spongy bone

The lighter, less dense inner bone containing trabeculae and red marrow spaces.

Haversian canal

A central canal in compact bone housing blood vessels and nerves.

Hemopoiesis

The process of blood cell production occurring in red bone marrow.

Bone remodeling

The ongoing process of replacing old bone tissue with new bone tissue.

Vitamin D

Essential vitamin that promotes calcium absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

Human Growth Hormone (hGH)

Hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates bone growth.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)

Hormone that promotes growth in childhood and stimulates bone formation.

Sex hormones

Hormones that regulate growth and development, affecting bone structure and density.

Calcium and Phosphorus

Key minerals essential for bone health and development.

Periosteum

A dense layer of vascular connective tissue enveloping the bones except at the surfaces of the joints.

Trabeculae

The small, beam-like structures in spongy bone that provide support and house red marrow.

Lacuna

Small spaces in the bone matrix that contain osteocytes.

Canaliculi

Small channels in bone that connect lacunae and allow cell communication.