Bones and Skeletal Tissues

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to bones and skeletal tissues, including cell types, bone development processes, structural components, and various classifications of bone and cartilage.

Chondrocyte

A cell that produces and maintains cartilage.

Lacuna

Small cavities in bone that contain osteocytes.

Perichondrium

Connective tissue that surrounds cartilage.

Hyaline Cartilage

The most common type of cartilage, providing support with some flexibility.

Elastic Cartilage

Cartilage that is more flexible and resilient due to the presence of elastic fibers.

Fibrocartilage

A tough type of cartilage that provides tensile strength and absorbs compression shock.

Osteoblasts

Bone-forming cells that secrete unmineralized bone matrix.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells that maintain the bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Cells responsible for bone resorption.

Epiphyseal line

The remnant of the epiphyseal plate after bones have stopped growing.

Haversian system (Osteon)

The structural unit of compact bone, consisting of a central canal and concentric lamellae.

Perforating (Volkmann's) canals

Canals that connect blood vessels and nerves from the periosteum to those in the central canals.

Bone remodeling

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

Ossification

The process of bone tissue formation.

Endochondral ossification

Bone formation by replacing hyaline cartilage.

Intramembranous ossification

Bone development from fibrous membranes.

Callus

A mass of tissue that forms at the site of a fracture during healing.

Hematoma

A localized swelling filled with blood that occurs from blood vessel damage.

Trabeculae

The small, rod-like structures that make up spongy bone.

Bone markings

Features of bones that include projections for muscle attachment and depressions for joint formations.

Woven bone

An immature type of bone formed during ossification, characterized by a haphazard arrangement of collagen fibers.

Lamellar bone

Mature bone that has a regular, organized structure.

Periosteum

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

Medullary cavity

The central cavity of a long bone, containing bone marrow.

Yellow marrow

Bone marrow that stores fat.

Red marrow

Bone marrow responsible for blood cell production.

Calcification

The process by which calcium and minerals are deposited in bone.

Glucocorticoids

Hormones that can influence bone metabolism, related to stress responses.